Alignment: Alignment is not simply an intellectual process. In fact, the intellectual understanding of the guiding principles is just the first step in alignment. Alignment starts with the understanding of the definition of each of the organization’s guiding principles. The next step is to help them articulate each of the definitions in their own language. This process helps them to establish an emotional and personal connection by creating parallels between the organizational guiding principles through their own interpretations of the guiding principles at a cultural level. The power in making this connection across personal and organizational cultures is that actions and decisions are then seen as significant in how they demonstrate and communicate the guiding principles. With a strong personal connection, individuals take the next step in the Alignment process and start to consciously make decisions using the guiding principles and their interpretations as a reference. The key factor in cultivating the guiding principles is for the leadership of the organization to be seen to be as not merely ‘talking’ it, but ‘living’ the culture through their decision-making and actions.

Energy & Passion: Maintaining energy and passion is the challenge that arises for individuals and groups within the organization when some isolated activities will be seen to be inconsistent with a sustainable community.  When people are well aligned through the guiding principles and supported by the leadership, change, which is what sustainability really is all about, becomes energizing. Individuals start to see the repetitive tasks that are required to be performed in a completely different light because the see them as contributing to and sustaining the organizational community. The activity itself is not self-sustaining, but in the context of the whole it supports sustainability.

Shifting Mindset: Leadership’s role is not to judge individual action or attitude, but to take it on as input. The opportunity is to support the individual or team to re-interpret circumstances and tasks so that they may understand their positive effect on the organizational community as a whole because of the stated purpose and guiding principles of the organization.

By encouraging positive views, belief systems and activity, leaders can shift mindsets to remove counterproductive behaviour and develop new skills for sustainability, while working within deeply rooted value systems and cultures.

Watch for our upcoming posts:

‘Normal’ Business Factors: The unexpected enemy of sustainability

Evolving Sustainability: Shifting goals without shifting values

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