Astrapto

Purpose in our work should be both a feeling and a function. We tend to think of it as an abstract concept because it’s disconnected from how work actually gets done. The moment purpose intersects with operations, the philosophical becomes practical.

Purpose lives in ex*****on more than intention. The abstract is the sense of accomplishment in knowing you made an impact. The concrete is the job design, systems, and tasks that lead to impact.

Sustainability typically requires compliance. If you emphasize conformance, you’ll surely end up with complacency. On the other hand, if you emphasize compassion, you’ll surely end up with commitment.

A sustainability champion I interviewed shared her experience dealing with a boss who wanted to micromanage her. She felt so stifled. She wanted to be trusted to complete the task and for her manager to value her experience and expertise.

Sustainability requires champions and you can’t cage a champion. When you foster an environment of empowerment and autonomy they’ll get the job done and then some!

If time is a barrier to change, then purpose is the engine that plows through and even accelerates performance when chasing after things that matter.
"We're too busy" is one of the top barriers to moving impact initiatives forward.
When presented an opportunity to implement impact initiatives, resist this temptation and instead ask "who exactly is too busy and what exactly are they too busy to do?" You or someone on your team may be missing out on the opportunity for "an even more rewarding career."

Why do people think sustainability is any different than any other function in an organization? Sustainability, like any other corporate discipline, is not static. The world is changing too fast for us miss the opportunity to pivot and prevail!