What are the best ways to communicate with colleagues who have different priorities in sustainability?

In sustainability teams it's not uncommon to have wildly different understandings and strategies, even though the goal seems simple. You will have people that are focused on DATA, Frameworks, ecology, Government policy, or people .... This is common. Sustainability and its methods/goas are complex for us all. I have used Miro and anonymous Ideating with post-its to find a consensus. The sticky notes can be sorted and discussed and through that process, collectively the group will soften their views and coalesce. It feels democratic and everyone usually feels like their voice is heard. The more unified the team the better :)

Die Kommunikation von Nachhaltigkeit ist häufig herausfordernd: Es beginnt schon mit der Frage, was Nachhaltigkeit eigentlich ist. So wird das Thema häufig als sehr umfassend und weitreichend empfunden. Das macht es wenig griffig und erschwert den Zugang. Darüber hinaus wird häufig zu viel an Vorwissen unterstellt, in Abkürzungen und mit zwar gängigen, dem Gegenüber aber oft unbekannten Begrifflichkeiten und Normen argumentiert. Nachhaltigkeitskommunikation sollte stets leicht verständlich und so konkret wie möglich am jeweiligen Thema erfolgen. Gerade bei Maßnahmen und Lösungen sollte verständlich werden, was im konkreten Fall das Problem ist, wie der Lösungsablauf ist und welchen Nutzen die Maßnahmen bringt.

Here are a few thoughts based on my experience building corporate sustainability programs: Recognize the tipping point where efforts with resistant colleagues become counterproductive. Avoid sacrificing supporters crucial for a passionate sustainability community while trying to convince naysayers. Shift quickly from futile arguments to productive dialogues. Ensure inclusivity by actively recruiting diverse voices and experiences, steering clear of a homogeneous community with identical mindsets. Avoid the "kumbaya" approach for a richer perspective. You don't have to tackle this alone; empower each supporter to be an ambassador, spreading the word and preventing bottlenecks in communication.

Think of the big picture-- it's easy to get caught up in the details but get back to common ground as quickly as you can. In my experience, pointing out priorities from the BoD, executive team and/or investor inquiries is hard to argue with. Focus on how this benefits the company and since we're all working for the same company, it's easier for them to see that we're all on the same side.

I've always strived to learn about the teams that I need to work with. That way I can speak their language. The concepts of sustainability might be new, but if I can frame them in the language and dialogue that they're familiar with, then it's easier for them to understand and draw parallels themselves. By talking about concepts, abbreviations, and topics others aren't familiar with, it can alienate them and make them less interested in working with you.

I have been in organizations that sustainability was being pushed at department level and not much of a top- down efforts. In my opinion it should not come at an interaction level communication but rather at an organizational level with a lot of leadership buy-in. Some things that we have pushed: - company level education to create common ground and understanding, (eg ED4S sustainability courses) - sustainability KPIs should makw it to department/team KPIs