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A Vision for Sustainability
| Guest post by: Tammy Kohl |
Article Overview: Sustainability is a viable and proven business strategy, which takes into account economic considerations, governmental issues, as well as demands from customers and stakeholders. Can you describe the purpose of your sustainability initiative? Can your employees? Can your customers?
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Free Download - What Does a Customer Really Want? By Tammy Kohl |
A Vision for Sustainability
Sustainability
began with the concept of being ‘green,’ becoming more environmentally
friendly, and paying more attention to conserving our planet’s resources.
However, sustainability has become much more than that. Sustainability is a
viable and proven business strategy, which takes into account economic
considerations, governmental issues, as well as demands from customers and
stakeholders. The base definition of sustainability that many of our clients
start with as they begin to define and customize their own strategy and action
plan is … an increase in productivity and/or reduction of consumed resources
without compromising product or service quality, competitiveness, or
profitability while helping to protect the planet. The mantra being: People +
Process + Environment = Profit.
New strategies and initiatives
require change, and positive change requires the leadership team to create and
provide a clear vision of where this change will take the organization. This
should also address how a strategy of sustainability benefits the organization,
the employees, and their customers. Commitment and ongoing follow-up on behalf
of the leadership team are critical. No new strategy can survive, let alone
thrive, if leadership is not fully on board. We believe and agree with a
statement made by the late and former CEO of Hanover Insurance, William
O’Brien, “The success of an intervention
depends on the interior condition of the intervenor. What counts is not only what leaders do and how they do it, but that interior
condition, the inner place from which they operate.”
A
compelling vision should:
·
Clarify the purpose for the change
·
Describe intent
·
Provide a cultural change
·
Provide a positive image of the future
·
Be felt in hearts and understood in minds
·
Help the employees intellectually and emotionally
grasp what the organization is striving to achieve and why it is important
Let’s take
a look at a couple of examples of compelling sustainability vision statements:
Example 1: We will be a sustainable
corporation. We engage our employees in more sustainable practices; we initiate
and use processes that are neutral or improve our environment; and we utilize
our resources in ways that create adaptable and sustainable workspace solutions
for our customers.We do all of this globally toprotect and restore
our environment, create economic value and support, and strengthen our
communities. (Furniture Manufacturer)
Example 2: We will strive to reduce the impact that our
internal operations have on the environment through sustainable practices and
source reduction initiatives. In addition, we will seek to provide our
customers with solutions designed to help them produce products that are
inherently more sustainable. (Engineered Film Producer)
Example 3: Imagine a Community College where
ongoing
operations result in a minimal negative impact on our natural environment. We
are actively engaged in creating ways to positively impact our environment.
Continuous learning takes place about our impact on the environment, as a
college and as individuals. Sustainability is a way of thinking about
everything that we do. Every staff member takes personal responsibility for
creating and using sustainable practices and principles in our daily work. We
integrate sustainability into our relationships and the social fabric of the
college. (Community College)
Can you describe the purpose of your sustainability
initiative? Can your employees? Can your customers?
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Article Tags: culture, environment, green, people, planet, process, profit, resource associates, strategy, sustainability
Referred by: http://www.increase-sales-coach.com
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About the Author: Tammy Kohl RSS for Tammy's articles - Visit Tammy's website www.resourceassociatescorp.com www.theinstituteforsustainability.com 800-762-6227 Tammy Kohl, President of Resource Associates Corporation, has been with the corporation since 1986. During that time she has held a series of increasingly responsible positions until her appointment in January 2002 to the position of President. Tammy's experience in working with personal clients and RAC affiliates has given her practical and extensive experience in the areas of creating customer value, comprehensive knowledge of RAC and TQI processes, and generating results on both the personal and organizational level. This knowledge and experience is invaluable in establishing the future course of Resource Associates Corporation on a national and international level. As part of her duties as Executive Vice President she was responsible for managing the production, customer service and affiliate support areas of the corporation. This knowledge and understanding of running operations gives her an in depth and well rounded working knowledge of how to run a successful business. In addition to her business sustainability, management and people skills she is proficient in setting strategic directions and accomplishing them. Tammy holds a degree in Business Administration. She is the founder of The Institute for Sustainability, an instructor for Achievement Seminars International and heads the RAC Executive Committee. Click here to visit Tammy's website   Delegating the Right Way Leadership Responsibility The Power of Critical Thinking Leading in Times of Change Goal Setting for Students |
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