Last Updated on October 21, 2022 by
Most people feel that acting sustainably is necessary to safeguard our environment, and most business executives see both the larger advantages and the direct beneficial impact of sustainable conduct on their bottom line.
Individually, we recognize that little actions have a large aggregate influence; but, as humans, we are remarkably resistant to change: Even when we want to, we find it difficult to change our routines and modify our behavior. Knowing and desire are not always sufficient to start a business in a Fully Furnished Office for Rent In Business Bay Dubai.
Learnings for a more sustainable environment
Engaging employees in sustainability has far-reaching consequences that extend far beyond our own businesses. Rather than sit back and be satisfied with our efforts, I wanted to share our lessons learned in the hope that it would assist others to launch similar programs:
Make it enjoyable
Simply said, individuals are driven to accomplish things when they are enjoyable. We are instinctively drawn to fun or amusing tasks, which are all too frequently overlooked in the workplace. Find methods to include fun in your environmental projects.
We convert “should dos” into “want to” by making the process of recycling, reusing, and reducing intrinsically enjoyable. Could you make your own version of the anti-litter “Ballot Bin” campaign?
Maintain simplicity
Our brains have limited cognitive capacity; we can only digest so much information. As a result, we prefer to avoid anything that seems like a nuisance on an unconscious level. We prefer simplicity. As a result, we may encourage good behavior change by making the sustainable option easier and the wasteful alternative more difficult.
Make your recycling bins easy to use with a foot pedal, but your garbage bins are difficult to use with a heavy lid; keep the mugs out of the way and the paper cups in the bottom cabinet; and put paper recycling bins at each workstation.
Begin small
To instill long-lasting new habits in your staff, begin with basic requests: things that are simple to do and impossible to refuse, such as using ceramic cups instead of paper cups and disposing of tea bags in the compost bin.
Small objectives are the key to significant transformations because they reduce resistance to change and, as we work toward and accomplish them, modify how we view ourselves, for example, internalizing the identity of being a “recycler.” The multiplier effect starts to grow as a result of this identity spreading to other aspects of our lives.
Demonstrate your momentum
We are considerably more likely to alter our behavior when we feel as though we are in the middle of a journey than at the beginning. This is because psychologically, a sensation of momentum and progress is highly strong. Show employees how far they’ve come toward their sustainable goals to increase participation and push for more change in a Fully Furnished Office For Rent In Business Bay Dubai.
Retailers execute this quite well by sending you a loyalty card with two stamps already filled in, giving you the impression that you’re on your way to the final objective and encouraging you to keep working hard.
Make the effects come to life
Instead of data, utilize pictures and analogies to have an emotional impact. Because our minds were not designed to consider large numbers, avoid numerical descriptive such as “billions of plastic bottles” consumed in a year. Instead, turn numbers into dramatic images that people can connect to, such as “Did you know there is a plastic trash island the size of Germany in the Pacific Ocean?”
Conclusion
These suggestions for nudging sustainable habits are based on what we know from behavioral research and our own employee engagement experience. Employee engagement efforts rely on telling employees what to do, which gives them moral high ground but has a limited effect.
