Being successful, by being sustainable.

I was originally going to focus this piece on the benefits of sustainability and the risks of ignoring it, but on reflection this felt like the wrong way to look at it.  I think it is better to re-frame it as why being sustainable is important for creating success.

Sustainability shouldn’t be an add on to our work, it should be a core mindset that supports the way we work.  In the same way that quality management and financial sustainability should be a key mindset, environmental sustainability should be part of all our thinking.

Having that mindset can hone our focus on how we run our organisations.

When the focus on improving sustainability is open and honest it can help staff become more engaged and focused on the running of the organisation.  It can give our teams an extra sense of purpose that leads to them becoming more productive.  I’ve seen instances where staff training on sustainability has led to really deep discussions about how processes and operations can be made more efficient.

A lot of sustainability work is about reducing energy and material use and improving efficiency.  There may be some low cost quick wins, but it is likely that some investment will be required.  However in the long run it is likely to save money.  Environmental and financial sustainability can go hand in hand.

Most 3rd sector and arts organisation depend on funding for at least part of their income.  Most funders will expect sustainability to be part of the deal, by becoming more sustainable and being able to demonstrate it we are increasing the chances of winning and maintaining funding streams.

The public generally want the companies and organisations they interact with to take sustainability seriously.  Some organisations successfully make a sustainability a key part of their public offer.  Although the reality is that for many audiences sustainability isn’t a deal breaker, an organisation that is seen as not taking it into account is risking a negative public reaction.

A public commitment to sustainability can also make the organisation a more attractive work place for potential employees.  This can be an important selling point in recruitment especially when looking to recruit a new generation of younger people.

The key is to be authentic, we need to be serious about what we are trying to do and honest when we have experienced challenges and things haven’t gone to plan.

To be really successful, sustainability has to be a key element in what we do.  Just looking green is no longer enough.

Any thoughts?  Feel free to get in touch.