By nature of our roles as sustainability professionals, we constantly find ourselves with people who don’t hold ESG issues to the same level of concern as we do. It’s an inevitability — we’ve dedicated our careers to it and so have a much more acute awareness of the problem and what we need do to change the course. It’s not therefore surprising that we regularly need to find ways to convey the significance of ESG issues and the duty of our job to find solutions to others, and on occasion face rebuttals and rejection when doing so.
While climate change and other ESG issues are not a new concept, the acceptance of accountability across corporates is and so progress is still relatively novel and slow. This can be frustrating for those of us who work in the space day in and day out.
Faced with this, how can we stay motivated so we can continue having the greatest impact possible, while also enjoying our work?
Look after your well-being
An initial place to start is always with yourself and your own well-being. Motivation is an emotion, therefore it’s easier to keep going — especially when something feels challenging — when you’re in a positive mind space. Invest in physical and mental well-being and scope out time away from your 9-to-5 to think about other things. Fighting for sustainability can feel all-encompassing at times, so giving yourself dedicated time to switch off can be extremely beneficial.
Find your tribe
Consistently facing questions about the integrity or purpose of your work can be draining, therefore surrounding yourself with people who support you both at work and outside of work is essential. Maintaining a support network of individuals who share similar beliefs and life goals, whether in a professional sense or just through a sustainable lifestyle, is a solid tactic to staying motivated as an ESG professional. It also creates an environment where celebrating achievements and discussing challenges is welcomed, which is needed to stay hopeful and positive about the profession.
Remind yourself why you started
Whether it’s on a post
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