You too, can do. Or: How to be part of the solution, not the problem

The fasts things on earth (meme) - sustainability specialist

Most recently I came repeatedly across the meme on the right.

Not only I actually do find it – sarcastic-cynically – funny, but like so often it contains a very real grain of truth.

However, once I step back from my typical sarcastic-cynical self, I can also see more than a mere glimmer of hope in this:
Increasingly people across the globe want to be part of the solution, rather then continuing to be part of the problem

Hence, in a sense this is good news.

Now, evidently the follow up questions is: Rather than such individuals calling themselves all of a sudden ‘experts’ in ESG (or sustainability etc): What would be for them a better approach to be

Genuine – experts indeed
Add value to the conversations (and contributing to creating real change), and
on an ongoing basis for years to come?

Because obviously, there is little value in ‘experts’ that fail or burn out professionally or privately in the process of ‘being an expert’.

In fact, there is a rather simplistic way to look at and think about this conundrum:

You too, can do: Be part of the solution, not the problem. Adding value with your skill set. — You too, can do: Be part of the solution, not the problem

Easy isn’t it!?

Not everyone needs to be a sustainability experts in order to be part of the solution! Quite to the contrary!

Let’s take the example of an accountant. Keeping the finances in order is a valuable thing to do. But what about adding in some carbon accounting, and the (externalised) cost associated with that?
Or the example of the person checking invoices vs actual orders delivered, purchase orders issued, and payments made? Well, how about ensuring the supply chain for ‘more responsible’ materials is in order by checking and verifying Scope and Transaction Certificates?
In sales? Apply your skills either in a small company that wants to change the world – and coach them to be market ready – or up your game by solving your clients as-of-yet not existing sustainability problems through what your employer can provide already. Example: Due Diligence legal requirements.

How about you? What is your ‘Sweet Spot’? How did you find it? And how did you transition?

The graphic as presented in this blog post draws from Ikigai Philosphy, HR profiling, and ‘common sense’. To read more about applying the Ikigai Philosophy to avoid cognitive dissonance, the following LinkedIn article may be of interest.