Sometimes a kick in the gut really IS what we need. While the U.S. election earlier this month rocked the globe on many levels, what struck me most was how a certain unnamed person single-handedly used Twitter to garner so much public attention. Alternatively, it may be our own inattention to the leadership power of that particular [...]
Who would have thought: that marijuana would one day be a legitimate business with energy efficiency issues that demanded resolving;* that a study would show how biking and urban transportation issues connect with societal good; or, that company culture and employee engagement around sustainability could really matter in home building.** In just the first hours [...]
Who are the leaders in corporate sustainability? When you hear that question, do you think of an individual or a brand name? The average business-aware person would likely spout brand names like Unilever or Coca Cola, given the coverage they get for various sustainability related practices. But, does knowing that these corporations “lead” mean they [...]
The following article first published January 9, 2014 in CSRWire. Sustainability can be a complex topic for any corporation or brand to communicate; yet to persuade the range of stakeholders to “buy” it, the “whys” and “hows” must be whittled down to their simplest form. Add to that already steep challenge the findings of the [...]
Nothing is new about the fact that business leaders must evolve with changing demands. By also prioritizing sustainability integration, those usual demands and responsibilities grow exponentially. So, we shouldn't be surprised that some business leaders have jumped in feet first to practice empathy, grow their communication skills, and think long term, while others (most?) have [...]
The following article first published October 23, 2013 in The Guardian. (The response was so positive that I plan to write more on this topic.) When the Weinreb Group's "Pioneers of Sustainability" report came out last month, it highlighted the top trailblazers that sustainability professionals had nominated and selected in a vote. All six chosen [...]
What if collaboration gave your company a competitive edge? And, what if competition became about taking the lead as an information-sharing resource? Both are the case when it comes to corporate leadership. But many businesses leave this opportunity on the table. A 2012 MIT article covering research into the key sustainable business questions caught my [...]
I’ve been doing some foundational work with a client recently that rewards me in a way I didn’t anticipate. It turns out I really enjoy helping business thinkers find their passion and written voice. With those things established, it is then easy to enable them to write in ways that include and celebrate the work [...]
Sustainability is moving into new territories, with new leaders and leadership styles emerging. Across all industries, we now see many leading organisations stepping forward and placing sustainability truly at the core of their leadership. At the same time, the use of social media is increasingly being used as a powerful tool for engaging, learning and sharing [...]
Going social with sustainability is not for everyone. In order to make social media work for sustainability’s sake, you have to see it as a long-term investment. You’ve got to truly believe you have personal or collective business wisdom to share that will forward the broader sustainable movement – even if that happens only one [...]
Two recent award announcements got me thinking about an untapped communications opportunity for corporate sustainability. One was the announcement of CR Magazine’s 2013 list of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens , and the other was the “honor roll” finalist list from green marketing strategist and eco-packaging company, GXT Green. The CR Magazine list, according to [...]
Something is going on in sustainable business communications that makes me think of those self-help books written to make even the most brilliant of women feel comfortable talking up their brilliance. What is happening is that incredible game-changing sustainable business wisdom is developing all over the country and globe, but word of it is somehow [...]
