Deborah Cole Reflects on Sustainability in the Workforce
Although we often think of the term “going green” as the use of environmentally-friendly products or the movement as a whole, we can also consider the green mindset as a way to conduct business. Eco-friendly means that a product, practice or activity won’t harm the environment, but we can also perform as business leaders who do no harm to our company culture or even to our business relationships. Sustainability means that what we do today does not deplete a potential positive environment for future generations of those who follow in our footsteps.
Questions to ask oneself as a leader of staff or even as a business partner in customer relationships are:
Sustainability is so much more than utilizing “green” products or using methods that do not harm the external environment.
Operating our businesses in a “green relationship” mode will sustain employeremployee relationships, which results in desired retention of valued employees and provides an environment where future employees flock to our companies to be a part of the movement. Being known as a friendly, even nurturing, workplace provides value to our world, our communities, our employees and all of the families affected by the workplace relationship.
Imagine a work environment where turnover is kept to a minimum. If the person/people tasked with seeking out and hiring staff can spend their days creating ways to enhance the work experience rather than always on the hunt for new staffers, we are in serious conservation-of-resources mode. And imagine if trainers/leaders are not constantly training new hires (except as growth dictates) because turnover exceeds standards; think of the time and money saved and waste reduced. Knowing how many resources are burned through when a new employee is brought on board, imagine our businesses where that time is at a minimum. Crews are fatigued when they are perpetually training, correcting and losing new crew members. Frustration is high, and they often feel they cannot do their jobs because they are always in training mode.
We encourage our crews to be efficient and save time and energy, and we know that a significant portion of a day/week/month is spent onboarding again and again. But what if our work environment itself was a sustainable environment? What if we provided our workforce with the type of workplace that encouraged them to remain with us, to be appreciated, to be recognized and to grow in skill and self-respect? It is possible.
Seek out those in our industry who run these types of sustainable workplaces.
"Follow their lead. Ask their advice. Do as
they do & model this behavior on a daily basis.
It is worth the effort."
Deborah Cole is the founder of a commercial landscape firm with multiple locations throughout Texas. She now devotes herself full-time to speaking, writing and consulting.