Three things I know: taking over the family business
How many times did I secretly wish for my father to leave the business and leave me the sole “Queen” on board? Ten years later, I cannot imagine working without him by...
Brain Circuits
How not to talk about climate change: agency, not urgency
Corporate messages about the climate crisis can evoke feelings of helplessness. In contrast, life-affirming narratives can help drive constructive climate action. Use this checklist of dos and don’ts to ensure you are sending out the right signals.
Don’t:
- Use language centered on urgency and catastrophe.
- Highlight collapse and loss, such as the disruption of ecosystems, the loss of biodiversity, and supply chain breakdowns.
- Use metaphors oriented around surviving in a hostile environment.
- Put out messages that can inadvertently cultivate resignation, leading to inaction.
- Use mechanistic terminology with regard to business models.
- Go into denial about the challenges.
Do:
- Use language that cultivates a sense of purpose, interconnectedness, and hope.
- Highlight business models that align with the life-supporting systems of the natural world.
- Use metaphors of stewardship and growth within a thriving ecosystem.
- Communicate the potential for business to be part of solutions rooted in collaboration, regeneration, and creativity.
- Talk about ‘becoming’ (versus change), as this implies agency of the individual, group, or organization.
- Hold open, honest, and heartfelt conversations about sustainability.
- Talk about redesigning systems for long-term flourishing,
- Use the language of the Inner Development Goals to encourage individuals to align their actions with a deeper sense of purpose.
Key learning
Corporate leaders can inspire their teams by acknowledging the significant challenges and then focusing on the positive actions that can be taken today, emphasizing agency and accountability. This approach helps people reconnect with their purpose, encouraging a mindset of possibility rather than fear.
Authors
Related
Why leaders should learn to value the boundary spanners
Entrepreneurial talent who work with other teams often run into trouble with their managers. Here are ways to get the most out of your ‘boundary spanners’...
Audio available
Cracking the culture code: how to ensure maximum team performance
Culture shapes how people work together, make decisions, handle conflict, and support each other. Ask yourself the following questions to check where your teams might be going wrong, and read on for tips on maximizing...
How to prevent employee burnout through a growth mindshift
When we feel stressed, we’re more likely to operate from a place of fear and fall back on a mindset that is fixed, judgmental, and focused on polarities – behaviour that soon...