Start Where You Are
Too many times in ESG, we stall initiating a program because we fear we are not ready. Building a program is about evolution, not revolution. Dream big, but its ok to start small.
”If each of us would sweep our own doorstep, the whole world would be clean” - Mother Theresa
How many of us have thought if I could get a dedicated sustainability position or if we only had a Director of Sustainability position. If I only had more visibility, if I only had a bigger budget, if I could only have an analyst or an additional analyst. We have all been caught up at one time or another of thinking, if only for a moment, “if I only had (insert title/want), then I could.”
While it is undoubtedly true, dedicated resources can help push a program forward; we cannot overlook the importance that every single individual in our organization can play, including ourselves - REGARDLESS OF TITLE OR POSITION.
While perhaps best known for his book, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, Canadian author Robin Sharma lays out the case that influencing your organization can be done, regardless of your position. Each and every one of us has within us the ability to harness our inner leader and drive change, irrespective of our title. In his book, The Leader Who Had No Title, Sharma points out the importance of extraordinary results, and those results start from looking within and realizing our own potential.
For those of you considering launching an ESG program in 2022, this book can provide some inspiration. No matter what your role currently is, if your goal is to develop an impactful ESG program, there is no position that is not important. Thinking to my own organization, Conservice, every single position is truly important for the organization to succeed and for our Sustainability Solutions offering to create value for our clients. Here it all starts with the utility bill - water, gas, or electric. The individual who first touches that bill, who QC’s that bill, who enters that bill into the system is the initial motion to a host of impactful downstream actions. From AP to tenant billing, to analytical analysis of consumption, opportunity identification, and reporting to shareholders - it all starts with that first touch of the utility bill. Every single fingerprint between bill and boardroom is a critical touch. Each interaction must be taken with a mindset of pursuing your absolute best, caring about your proficiency, and realizing the vital role that is being performed.
I suspect in your organizations; you have similarities. That each and every position, no matter the title, when its importance is considered, you will see that there is an opportunity to make a real difference.
When we consider ESG, and organizations considering a new ESG program, I often see hesitation which is rooted in uncertainty. It does not matter where your program is now. It does not matter where your organization is now The most critical step is the first step. No one is expecting perfection on the first day. Our programs have to start where we are. They evolve, over time. Each year we develop, we become more proficient, we take another step towards mastery.
That first step may be as simple as understanding where the data is and if that data is financial only or if we are capturing consumption. If we have a line on where the data is, we can begin to organize the data and understand our starting point. This is why one of the first questions asked when starting a sustainability program is, “where is your data.”
Organizations often encounter paralysis by analysis when it comes to ESG. They overthink the consequences of their ESG program being evaluated and compared to other programs. This overanalyzing prevents the organization from taking the essential initial first steps of launching a program. Instead, they freeze, worried about how they might compare, meanwhile they are being passed by, by their competitors.
Sharma leans on the word, “IMAGE” as an acronym for leadership:
I - Innovation, we grow daily through daily innovation.
M - Mastery, a commitment to mastery through constant improvement.
A - Authenticity, trustworthiness to both self and others.
G - Guts, have the courage to do what needs to be done.
E - Ethics, do what is right and stay true to your values.
The Covid era and the Climate Crisis have brought urgency to ESG, an urgency that can push us and our organizations out of our comfort zones. Additional lessons for these turbulent times can also be found in Sharma’s text. Leaning back into an acronym, which seems fitting for ESG, he pulls out the word “SPARK” as an acronym for taking action:
S - Speak - the naked truth, overcommunicate and do so with candor.
P - Prioritise - Taking a cue from Stephen Covey, put first things first.
A - Adversity - Opportunity results when facing a challenge.
R - Response - do you react or act when confronted with change.
K - Kudos - behold the greatness of everyone, recognize effort everywhere.
Sharma also provides a lesson in the word “HUMAN”, which asks us to think about our relationships. The deeper our relationships, the stronger our personal leadership. If you approach your job with the desire to leave every single person whose path you cross better, happier, and more engaged than when you found them, you will form deep and meaningful relationships.
Personally, I have come across some of the very best people in my roles in sustainability and facility management, both within and outside of my own organization. I am better for having met those in my network, and I truly hope they are better having met me. So what does “HUMAN” stand for?
H - Helpfulness - how can you contribute, what can you add, leave value in your wake.
U - Understanding - back to another Stephen Covey habit here, seek first to understand, then be understood. God gave us two ears and one mouth and we should use them in that ratio.
M - Mingle - network, engage with people at all levels.
A - Amuse - have fun, this is cool stuff, people are more likely to help it it is fun.
N - Nurture - realize the greatness in those around you, people should feel valued after each engagement. To be a great leader, first, become a great person.
Finally, Sharma leaves us with a final important word, “SHINE.”
S - See (clearly) - when we look at the world, when we look at our role, what is our reality and how does it align with actual reality.
H - Health - To have energy to reach our goals, we need to have the ability to physically reach them.
I - Inspiration - Find daily inspiration with activities that inspire you, so you in turn can inspire others.
N - Neglect - Do not neglect your family or friends.
E - Elevate your lifestyle, or in other words enjoy the journey.
Launching a sustainability program depends on you. If that is your goal, if this is your passion, where you sit does not really matter. In every act, we build confidence in our ability and when we model personal leadership in our daily lives, it will help lead us towards making that program a reality.
Be the master of your vision, and you will install the confidence in others to place their trust in you. It is all about mindset. Early in Sharma’s tale, he states, “Each of us is born into Genuis, sadly most of us die amid mediocrity.” In other words, if you want to achieve it, the power to do so is within you. Applying a few tactics, develop a couple of new habits and your dream can become reality. The first step is yours to take.
You can help reduce the impact of the built environment by sharing this blog with your peers. Together we can impact the 39% of greenhouse gasses attributed to the built environment. It starts with awareness, and we succeed with teamwork.
Stay well!
Chris Laughman is the ThirtyNine Blog author, a blog dedicated to reducing the impact of the built environment. When not blogging, Chris is helping the real estate industry reduce energy and water impact as the Vice President of Sustainability for Conservice, the Utility Experts. Whether Multifamily, Single Family, Student Housing, Commercial, or Military, we simplify utility billing and expense management by doing it for you. Our insight into your utility consumption provides an opportunity to identify risks. Leveraging innovation and experience we ignite solutions with real impacts and track performance to ensure the trendline stays laser-focused on the goal. At Conservice we have developed a true bill-to-boardroom solution to help truly make a difference. We have before us a tremendous opportunity. Standing shoulder to shoulder, we will get this done. Contact me at claughman@conservice.com for more information.
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Portions of this blog post were inspired by Robin Sharma’s The Leader Who Had No Title. Put this book on your 2022 reading list if you haven’t already.