By Julie A. Baylor, CHA, LEED GA

 

Even with the best intentions and support, the road to being green can sometimes seem bumpy, filled with potholes, or sometimes even closed to through traffic. But just like any journey, planning ahead and knowing the conditions you are likely to face can help you understand and prepare for these detours to keep you moving in the right direction.

 

In many cases, the barriers to sustainable forward momentum can be traced back to the subconscious mental pictures we hold in our minds. If we think something will be difficult, we are reluctant to forge ahead. You shouldn’t have to “psych yourself up” to take on your green goals – just decide to think differently. Changing how we think will change how we act, which can make all the difference in our ability to accomplish seemingly difficult tasks. A positive approach will increase the likelihood of positive results, and will make the process a lot more fun for everyone.

 

Below are several subconscious roadblocks that may hinder your progress, with suggestions on how to overcome each one.

 

FEAR

One of my all time favorite books is Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson, M.D. The major theme of this cute little story is, “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” The meaning behind the question is that fear is often what holds us back from moving forward - fear of the unknown, fear of hard work, fear of failure, fear of finding out things we didn’t want to know. These fears can sometimes paralyze us into stagnation. But the world keeps moving, and to keep up we need to move with it. Relating this back to your green initiatives, ask yourself two questions: (1) What am I really afraid of? and (2) What is the worst that can happen? If your fear is “the unknown,” strive to learn more. There are many resources available to help you understand what it means to be green. If it’s “hard work,” remember that nothing worthwhile comes easy. If you have a fear of failure, realize that failures are our “opportunities to intelligently begin again” (Henry Ford). There is no need to fear failure, because it is inevitable – we all fail, sometimes several times, before attaining success. So stop worrying and get on with it; the sooner you do, the sooner your success will come. 

 

DOUBT

This obstacle is a close relative of FEAR, and refers to a lack of assurance. What causes us to doubt? 

1.      A lack of understanding – “We don’t have the expertise to go green.”

2.      Past experiences – “We tried going green before and it just didn’t work.”

3.      Lack of resources – “We can’t afford to go green.” 

First, recognize that doubt has a negative affect on your success, so send it away. Simply decide not to doubt. Then, realize that the causes of your doubt have already been addressed. Number 1: It doesn’t take an environmental scientist to improve your operations, just an understanding of the impact your business has on the environment and a decision to do better. Number 2: That was then, this is now. Put the past behind you and start again. A fresh approach might be all you need. Number 3: Many sustainable practices can be initiated with little to no cash outlay. Improvements that require an investment can be identified and planned for through capital projects, rebates, and incentives offered through utility and government programs. There - doubt resolved. 

 

EXCUSES

The definition of an excuse is a reason for NOT doing something that you know you should do. Excuses lead to the blame game, and we all know when that starts, nobody wins. Redirect the energy put into defending excuses into moving ahead with green initiatives. Here are some of the more common excuses, with their blunt but effectual answers. 

-          “I’m not trained.” So get trained.  Attend the Gateway to a Greener LA green business workshops. Informal group sessions are offered periodically with open discussion, practical examples, and sample written policies and procedures that can be adapted by your business and implemented right away. 

-          “I don’t have time.” Make time. We all have the same amount of time, and we always choose to do the things that are most important to us. Saying you don’t have time really means it’s not as important to you as something else. Schedule green initiatives as an appointment on your calendar, and then be disciplined to keep your appointment. 

-          “We don’t have the funds.” You don’t need funds to start changing workplace habits. Begin by initiating an awareness program that challenges everyone to conserve water and energy, reduce waste and recycle more. Commit to buying eco-friendly products when existing supplies run out. In time, little by little, your inventory can be completely converted without having to make a large investment. 

-          “I don’t have the support of upper management or ownership.” So convince them. Make an appointment and show them A Business Case for Being Green. Be prepared to overcome their objections, just like we did in this article. If you believe in what you’re selling, and can communicate the benefits in a meaningful way, the sale is practically guaranteed.

 

PERFECTIONISM

While it may seem on the surface that a desire for perfection reflects high standards, the reality is that being a perfectionist will stifle your success. When you consider that the standard definitions of “green business” imply doing less harm to the natural environment than an average business, you realize that being perfectly green is impossible. Human business interactions will have an impact on the Earth, and our goal is to minimize the negative effects as much as possible. Truly, it takes courage to accept imperfection and move forward. These considerations may help. 

-          Realize that perfection is unattainable. We live in an imperfect world, and even if you could get something perfect today, tomorrow it may wilt, or rust, or fade anyway. 

-          Perfection is subjective. What you consider perfect may not look the same to someone else. You will never achieve perfection in eyes of the entire world. 

-          Perfectionism leads to procrastination. Don’t allow yourself to fall into this trap. Putting things off because they won’t be perfect just sets you back in your goals.

-          Perfection and Excellence are not the same things. Striving for perfection will lead to frustration, while striving for excellence will promote ongoing continuous improvement. 

 

In closing, the main message here is to do something. Do something every day that will move you closer to your green goals. Determine your objectives. Set your targets. Communicate to your stakeholders. Move your company forward in sustainability by recognizing roadblocks and finding ways around them. 

 

By Julie A. Baylor, CHA, LEED GA