When Sustainability Leadership Really Matters

Blog by Julie Urlaub, Founder and Managing Partner at Taiga Company
Oct 22, 2010 3:15 PM ET

Taiga Company Blog

Not all companies, in fact very few, have a uniform business sustainability understanding across the entire organization.  This lack of cohesion is often an opportunity for leadership to really shine.  By facilitating sustainability discussion, leaders open the door to inclusion, reduced resistance, alignment, and a smoother transition of sustainable business change. 

One of the most common miss-steps taken by many business executives is assuming the role of ‘king of the hill’.  In this case, executives attempt to sell a predefined change to the organization as a way to attain agreement and to accelerate implementation. Our professional experience has shown that this method is often met with resistance by the unengaged stakeholder.
 
In contrast, successful leadership practices recognize that communication and active learning are key success factors in the pursuit of business sustainability.  By allowing flexibility and promoting innovation across the organization, leaders are positioning the business to capture the interests of its stakeholders and ensure their active participation.  This creates personal buy-in and ongoing support.
 

Home to one third of the earth's trees, the Taiga is the largest land-based biosphere and encircles the globe. Its immense oxygen production literally changes the atmosphere and refreshes the planet. It is this continuous renewal that has shaped Taiga Company's vision to drive similar change in the business world. Taiga Company seeks to be the "oxygen for your business".

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