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Sustainable decision-making involves making decision today that preserves future generations’ ability to prosper. Sustainable business decisions take into account the health and well being of the people in them, and touched by them. Without people, there is no business. Businesses that use sustainable decision making often find it easier to be more profitable. For instance, check out the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexto find the leaders in each sector and see how those traditionally leading in sustainability are out performing their peers. Research shows a direct link between profitability, socially responsible business decisions and people. Among the connections are:
The question a business can start asking itself is: Have we have fully leveraged our first investments in sustainable decision making (often waste management, energy efficiency, building improvements or product development) to forge sustainable culture and practices among our people? If the answer is no, some first steps include:
The way a company can start creating a common language is through communications that create awareness and passion. Common language will allow people to call upon their strength to question what “has been” in the past and shift towards the future as a “to be” phase. Through learning programs, employees can develop understanding of sustainable principles and practices, and those that need skills or knowledge to implement, can dive deeper into learning. Tying sustainability to career procession ladders helps to embed principles into culture. When teams are taught how to articulate costs and benefits in terms balance between people, planet and profit, sustainable change becomes easier to implement. |
| The important element for businesses to remember is that sustainable decision-making should touch everyone and be not something people feel they “have to do” because the c-suite says so. When employees are passionate and engaged, businesses profit. |