sustainability change management: we've had the green audit...now what?

SSC White Paper

SUSTAINABILITY CHANGE MANAGEMENT:We’ve Had the Green Audit … Now What?

www.sustainabilityconsulting.comCopyright © 2012, Strategic Sustainability Consulting. All rights reserved.

Sustainability Change Management

Once an organization has had a green audit depicting the current sustainability status, leading the change initiative can be overwhelming.

Change requires a lot of time, planning, and management. Because the people are the key to successful organizational change, business leaders must take appropriate steps to involve and engage employees in the sustainability vision and implementation process.

http://www.sustainabilityconsulting.com/greenaudit/



This presentation provides a summary of the white paper Sustainability Change Management, which offers the framework for business leaders to successfully lead their organizations through a sustainable change to an eco-conscious culture.


http://www.sustainabilityconsulting.com/extra-resources/sustainability-change-management-weve-had-the-green-auditnow.html



The white paper provides you with the resources needed to make sustainability an integral part of your business plan by providing information on:

Identifying the change curve cycle

Stating a properly framed message to employees

Applying key factors to create a shared vision

Showing how to develop a communication plan

Engaging employees in the change

Creating meaningful metrics to measure change

Providing effective rewards and recognition

Applying methods for continuous improvement

Download this complimentary white paper to learn more!



Reviewing the Green Audit Results



An SSC green audit contains a comprehensive look at an organization through identifying key environmental impacts, challenges, and opportunities, as well as

determining the overall carbon footprint.




Reporting results consist of an environmental SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats), carbon footprint data including benchmarks against competitors, employee assessment results, and recommendations for improvement.

Learn more about SWOT by downloading Sustainability Change

Management





The employee aspect of the audit is one of the most important areas to consider before enacting change. This will tell you the extent of your employees green knowledge and how they feel about sustainable initiatives.

The carbon footprint analysis is also a vital consideration as it determines the specific route of change you can make. It will also determine the scope of change.

Preparing for the Change Curve



Change in any organization can be challenging due to a normal resistant response. People become comfortable, safe, and accustomed to business as usual and like to maintain such a lifestyle.

Anything affecting this routine can and will be seen as a threat, causing much undo stress and anxiety.



The goal of change management is not to eliminate resistance in employees, but to minimize the impact of this resistance.

The path towards gradually accepting change resembles the stages of grief. Although in this case the five stages do not have to happen in their assigned order, nor is there a set amount of time per stage.

Learn more about helping others break from the past here.

Leadership support is crucial in determining how long employees remain in each phase.


Leading the Change


Leading the Change

Establish a Sense of Urgency: Leaders need to determine what

is changing, when this change will incur, and any losses or gains

For the change to be effective, 75% of employees must feel this sense of urgency to be compelled to change

The green audit can direct the focus of this sense

Frame the Message: Determine a specific objective

Examine audience perspectives: What is in it for them?

Account for audience core values

Incorporate these factors into a simple and evaluative statement

For full messaging examples download Sustainability Change Management




Leading the Change

Create a Shared Vision: Business leaders must inspire

change through creating a shared vision of the future for the entire organization

Vision based on factors of the sense of urgency

Craft a story of goal success to walk the employees through

Engage employees in this vision by soliciting their green vision for the organization and incorporating their vision into the final decision statement


Leading the Change

Create a Coalition Involve others in the change

Consists of eco-conscious agents from all levels of the organization

Formal leaders consist of executive management, or those who behave sustainably

Informal leaders can be either powerful allies of change or strong sources of resistance. They are the employee’s trusted leaders

Partnering with a consultant as a leader can save significant time and money

Implement a green team


Leading the Change

Communicate a Plan The agenda for change must be

communicated to all levels of the organization

Review questions such as who, where, what, when, why, and how

What has already been accomplished? When will each department be notified of change? Why is the change important?

Create a Learning Environment Increased awareness levels and

desire to change will be useless without knowledge of how to accomplish organizational goals

The foundation of green knowledge management is transparency, access to information, and understanding

Pertinent education teaching the employees what green means should be provided

Learn more about sustainability training here!



Leading the Change

Model the Behavior Organizational leaders must

model the expected behavior

Green language should be used daily to reinforce green concepts and keep them in employee’s minds

Find out about Time Magazine’s Greenest CEO and his sustainable behavioral leadership by downloading Sustainability Change Management.




Leading the Change

Empower Others to Act Leaders should eliminate

obstacles to change by altering factors that undermine the grand vision

Encourage all members of the organization to recognize obstacles and overcome them as a team

Consider establishing a leader for your employees in each department

Rewards and Recognition


Rewards and Recognition

Because most need compelling evidence that their efforts are being noticed, rewarding behavior propels the change momentum.

Recognize those in the organization who model sustainable behavior through the following:

Praise and recognition

Customer feedback

Paid time off

Personal development

Respect as an integral team member

Measuring Success Along the Way


Measuring Success Along the Way

Measuring change is vital to ensure the change is an enduring one

Metrics should be used as a learning tool, not a punishment

Measure what truly matters

Brand recognition

Waste reduction

Benchmark results against competitors

Resources for Metrics:

Global Reporting Initiative

World Business Council on Sustainable Development

The Corporate Register

An SSC Consultant can be very helpful as well!

https://www.globalreporting.org/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.wbcsd.org/home.aspx

http://www.wbcsd.org/home.aspx

http://www.corporateregister.com/

http://www.sustainabilityconsulting.com/forclients/

Looking Towards a Sustainable Future



Keep in mind the vital aspects of leadership such as raising awareness, involving everyone, creating a vision, measuring success, and

other factors along those lines, when you embark on the journey of change. Although at times change may seem like a monster, remember to put it into

perspective. Break it down into a feasible process and change can be integrated into attainable goals.



Creating a sustainability culture should incorporate risk, innovation, and empowerment to encourage employees to continuously seek new and

innovative ways to reduce their carbon footprint and the organization’s impact. SSC consultants can help your green team devise action plans and methods to ensure improvement is continuous. Change requires extensive

time planning and management. But by following the steps laid out in Sustainability Change Management the “big change” can be a fluid process.


Download the complimentary white paper in it’s entirety by visiting the SSC website today: Sustainability Change Management: We’ve Had the Green Audit… Now What?

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