To be more focussed on connection or content, that is the question......
Whether you work in learning and development, sustainability, leadership or operations, more and more business leaders are recognising the need to upskill their people in sustainability training.
It sounds like a cliché, but every job will be a climate job, and we all have to play our part, yet there's a green skills gap - that is, a gap between the necessary sustainability skills for different roles and what employees currently possess.
Investigate your problem before interrogating solutions
Before rushing into workshops and imposing mandatory 60-minute learning sessions, it's crucial to pause and consider: What problem are we actually trying to address? Is it a matter of content, connection, or perhaps both?
Ask yourself: Do we need to add more sustainability information to our current systems, OR do we need to improve how the information is delivered? Of course, it might be both.
When executed effectively, building your sustainability upskilling around these questions can pave the way for award-winning and proven education strategies. Let's dive in and bring it to life.
Do you need more information? Your problem is content:
If you got your hands on the best sustainability videos or workshops, and integrated these into your current systems, what would happen?
Would you be able to kick back, enjoy a surge of voluntary activity, and watch over time as colleagues recommend to others and come back themselves to repeat and learn more? If so, then content is likely the key issue for you - and it’s worth looking for reputable providers and let your existing systems and processes work their magic.
If, however, you suspect the learning materials and effort would more likely gather dust - if you suspect they would require constant vigilance, reminders and possibly mandating - then you have a connection problem. After all, a system that requires you to put in as much (or more) effort than you get out isn’t working as well as it should do.
Do you need a better way to deliver the information? Your problem is connection:
Is your main problem getting and keeping people’s attention? While you're aware that they value sustainability and desire to work for a sustainable company, you observe low employee engagement when organising webinars, workshops, or delivering sustainability modules.
It can be super frustrating. Your colleagues are telling you they want to engage and learn more. Meanwhile, you are spending considerable time and effort to satisfy this demand, but in reality there is very little engagement. Or no connection between their aims and yours.
How can you overcome this?
Firstly, it’s important to recognise that everyone is different. However, there are some universal tips, based around specific learning theories, that can be used to greatly improve the connection and impact of your efforts:
Make it simple; Humans are 60% water - so it’s no surprise that we too prefer to flow along the path of least resistance! Time and time again, the biggest factor influencing behaviour is how easy and simple an option is compared to its alternatives. So, do everything in your power to keep learning straightforward and easy (The Simplicity Principle or bias)
Put them in control - let people engage on their terms and time, not yours. Self-Determination Theory highlights the importance of giving individuals control and autonomy over their choices.
Make it social - Studies indicate that social comparisons are effective in nudging broader sustainability engagement. Therefore, make sure to demonstrate to colleagues that others are already taking action (Social Comparison Theory).
Make it relevant - We all prefer to avoid engaging our brains too much (or using System 2 thinking). Don't expect your team to engage with generic topics and then figure out how it's relevant to them. Make it clear by providing different information for different job roles and using practical examples (Egocentric bias).
Deliver content from the right people - It's tempting to rely on AI or embed a YouTube video, but what truly matters is who is delivering the information, not just the content itself. Try to have people from your organisation deliver (or introduce) important messages to enhance their credibility (authority and affinity biases).
In reality - Question both Content and Connection:
From my own experience, the challenge frequently spans both fronts. Initially, establishing a connection or capturing your colleagues' attention proves difficult amidst the cacophony of noise and software fatigue. But it’s equally important, once you've got their attention, not to squander it with poor-quality, generic or irrelevant content.
Despite the challenges, whether through workshops or e-learning, it's entirely possible to provide people with information in a format they enjoy, that they can apply, and which they will share and recommend with colleagues.
It’s satisfaction all round. By empowering your colleagues to educate themselves and inspire others, allowing you to focus on other tasks, this kind of employee engagement fosters a workplace where everyone is more satisfied and knowledgeable. This collaborative effort increases the likelihood of achieving your sustainability goals and saves you time in the process!
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