To be successful, a green business campaign requires the commitment of strong leaders who embrace the concepts of the triple bottom line: people, planet and profit. Being green takes commitment, persistence, and perseverance. Employees will be looking to their managers for guidance as they develop their sense of identity as a green employee. 

 

Without the proper motivation, being green can too easily seem like a heavy burden. Conversely, when a green culture is fostered in the workplace being green feels natural and easy. As a leader, you have the power to influence positive green habits and behaviors that contribute to a productive, healthy and profitable green workplace. 

 

The following strategies are designed to inspire and guide employees toward working green. 

 

GREEN ORIENTATION

Every employee plays a major role in the success of your business – that’s why you hired them! Just as it is vitally important that every employee understands their role in contributing to the company’s financial success, employees must also know and accept their responsibilities for performing their jobs according to the Green Policies & Procedures that have been established. Including a green segment in your employee orientation program will help employees to embrace the identity of a green employee. 

 

ENGAGING EMPLOYEES

Maintaining positive momentum toward improved performance will require a plan to keep employees interested and engaged. Consider implementing some or all of the following:

-          Eco-Suggestion Box: The best ideas usually come from the trenches, so ask employees to get involved by providing their suggestions. Recognize those who contribute with positive public mentions or employee of the month nominations. 

-          Newsletter Features: Include a section in your newsletter to share green ideas, performance statistics, upcoming green activities, or recent green PR received. 

-          Staff Interviews: Choose one employee per month to do a brief interview on what they do in their jobs that contributes to the company’s green initiatives. The interview can be video or newsletter format. 

-          Green Team Meetings: Invite all interested employees to attend a Green Team meeting to increase their understanding of the process, and to contribute their ideas. 

-          Team Building Event: Plan and hold at least one company wide team building event with a green or community improvement theme. Ideas include beach clean-up, tree planting, community garden, or group walk-a-thon. 

 

ENCOURAGE VOLUNTEERING

To develop and enhance both employee and community involvement, adopt a policy of Employee Volunteerism, a philosophy that encourages individual employees to become involved in volunteering in charitable and community causes. You can do this in multiples ways:

You will be fostering neighborhood improvements while building employee loyalty and creating valuable community ties. 

 

Julie A. Baylor, CHA, LEED GA