Have an Eco-Conversation with Your Boss
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 09. 1.06
Many Treehuggers who commit to a variety of eco-conscious activities at home, from composting to recycling to shopping for local and organic food, may go to an office or other work place every day where all of these practices are completely foreign to co-workers and managers. Having that eco-conversation with your manager or CEO may be one of the most effective ways to create wider change, but how do you convince someone whose main commitment is to your company's bottom line? In Wednesday's Environment column for the UK's Guardian, Imogen Martineau, communications manager at Forum for the Future, makes a number of suggestions for turning your boss into a green workplace convert. Among her suggestions:
- Appeal to egos by pointing to business sustainability success stories, such as Ray Anderson's transformation of Interface.
- Focus on the bottom line in making your case -- your company can save a lot of money by going green.
- Talk about opportunities and innovations.
- Make it easy -- discuss, for instance, going carbon neutral.
- Keep your message positive -- say goodbye to guilt.
- If all else fails, keep some fair trade chocolates in your desk to pass out to co-workers also interested in change.
Not only is a greener office more likely to be a healthier and happier workplace, but others in the company may, in turn, take these practices home with them. Spread the word... and start with the boss! ::Guardian Unlimited via Hugg
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I did something like this over a year and a half ago. Been a battle, but I still have my job... Many things are still not happening.
Ohh and it is so gigantic of a Corporation that actually knowing if things are happening are well difficult.
Anyways I would like to say I have had several victories, and people are seeming to at least allow the possibility.
So I'm happy.
It's cool that there is a term for this: eco-conversation. I think this kind of conversation can take place between employees and bosses but also between customers and shop owners and diners with restaurant owners. In fact, everywhere!
And don't forget schools.
At my kids' elemetary school I noticed that they had the old style fluorescent light bulbs with magnetic ballasts and incandencent bulbs.
So I spoke with the princpal and the school board and pointed out that in addition to reducing pollution it would save the school money.
They agreed to convert to T-8 fluorescents with electronic ballasts and compact fluorescent bulbs (it was about 200 fixtures). When they did it I wrote a press release that the local paper ran and the school got some good press as a progressive school.
It's a small victory, I know, but if other parents would keep an eye on what's going on at their schools' and press for green improvements there is a potential for a big impact.
@Tavita
Nice going..and the press will make parents and others think to do the same. I got my local deli to change when I showed them the cost savings....Also, you/the principle might talk to your school district who could replicate the program across other schools...