You Don’t Have to Leave to Get a Green Job – Become the Internal Environmental Champion!
The environment could be one of your passions, even a core value, the challenge is that you don’t see your current company doing anything about it – in fact the majority of respondents to a Monster survey said that, given the choice, they would leave their current employer for a ‘greener’ one - BUT the great news is that you do not have to leave .
In a similar survey, also for Monster, only 18% of respondents felt that their employer was being extremely green - the reason that most employers are not taking the first steps are lack of information and the upfront cost of doing something. This is where YOU come in.
Identify who in your organization would have a say in making greener policies and decisions and understand what their current opinions are, let them know that you are passionate about this cause and you would like to spearhead an initiative to establish the benefits of taking a greener approach. After all green programs have been shown to not just save costs, but engage and retain employees.
Be sure that your profile internally then becomes one associated with the green initiative, including adding a byline to your e-mail signature, having something in your work area that reflects green and even getting an internal announcement out there.
First do an assessment of what is being done now either formally or informally. Spend some time with the person in your organization who is responsible and understand their motivations and the companies for bring green so that you can align. Also find out also what has been done in the past, you might have a great idea or initiative but it has been tried before. Better to know why it might not have worked before using that as a launch and seeing it flop.
Secondly seek some input from others in the company. Again a survey may have already been done so do not duplicate the work. If not use one of the no charge online surveys to ask a few questions about peoples level of interest and what they are already doing. Also see if there is anyone interested in helping you.
Third develop a strategy to launch the initiative and a plan for implementing some ongoing action, look to recommend some quick changes that will have an impact both by being noticed and saving the organization money. After that think about enrolling some like minded colleagues to the cause and establish some longer term goals and programs.
Very soon you will have the unofficial job title of IGO – Internal Green Officer!
PAUL COPCUTT
E-mail: keynotes (at) paulcopcutt.com Tel: 905-628-1100
SquarePeg Solution, 1063 King Street West, Ste 412, Hamilton. ON L9H 7S1, Canada
Copyright 2011-12 Paul Copcutt & Square Peg Solution Inc
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