What do you do if your team members lack motivation in sustainability efforts?

Ignite your team's sustainability passion by understanding what they value! Don't force your/the company's values; instead, learn their language and connect sustainability practices to their goals. Show how sustainability can be relevant for them too: cuts costs, boosts efficiency, and creates positive change. Paint a vivid picture of the long-term vision and engage them with interactive workshops and hands-on projects. Celebrate progress and foster collaboration. By tapping into their intrinsic motivations, you can bring them on board (or at least close to getting on board (: )

I'm reminded of an old adage: "What gets measured gets managed." This may not be a popular answer but after years of sustainability change management, the #1 guarantee of success (e.g. adoption, application, outcomes) is top-down/C-suite buy in for sustainability endeavors. With this support and mandate, everyone "owns" sustainability: you can engrain these KPIs into traditional business metrics - beyond sust. reporting - like Board reported metrics, performance review criteria, compensation models, etc. This also ensures your team and stakeholders aren't burdened by sustainability data gathering as additional work detracting from their "main" roles, but rather can advance their careers by supporting the company sust. goals as standard.

It's essential to recognize that motivation can fluctuate among team members, especially when it comes to sustainability efforts. One approach to address this is by fostering a collaborative environment where everyone feels empowered and valued. Encourage open communication channels where team members can freely share their ideas, concerns, and feedback regarding sustainability initiatives. Additionally, consider organizing team brainstorming sessions or workshops to generate fresh ideas and reignite motivation. By involving your team in decision-making processes and acknowledging their contributions, you can foster a sense of ownership and accountability, ultimately driving greater motivation and engagement in sustainability efforts.

To enhance intrinsic motivation among team members for sustainability, actively involve them in decision-making processes. Initiate regular discussions where ideas and proposals for sustainable initiatives are collaboratively developed. Provide opportunities for team members to choose projects aligned with their individual sustainability interests. Illustrate the direct connection between their contributions and the overarching sustainability goals of the company. Through this participatory approach, a sense of autonomy and individual responsibility for sustainable actions within the team is cultivated. This not only boosts motivation but also fosters a long-term commitment to sustainable corporate objectives.

Sustainability is a journey and not everyone is at the same stage. Providing regular opportunities for learning, open dialogue and small empowering steps both at the workplace and beyond can help to motivate and keep the topic top of mind.

Green groups are an excellent way to unite the team who are passionate about sustainability and wish to do more both at the workplace and beyond. By providing time and resources to teams form these groups, not only can it improve employee satisfaction at work, but it can also foster new friendships, and further eco-efforts and movements within teams and offices.

Humans learn by example Our behaviour and daily habits ate ripples to change. Organically introduce the right manner to handle matters and communicate in the team will harmonise the mission and the efforts to a common goal.

It is hard to motivate people (or an organization) to do things that are not in their control. Most successful sustainability strategies have three parts: empowering people to take action with things in their control (e.g., waste reduction, energy conservation), investing in items within the company’s control (e.g., energy efficiency, renewables, WFH policies), and continuing to assess changing circumstances not in the control of the company or employees. This is why companies not only need to adapt to the changing needs of stakeholders but also adjust to changing circumstances on the planet. Using a scenario analysis can help motivate an organization and employees by staying focused on what they can influence and prepare for in the future.