It's almost "par for the course" to revel in our new found green awareness. We gobble up chic reusable grocery bags, brag about our use of compact fluorescents, and covet organic vegetables. What's the next big thing? Remember that you heard it here first, rev up your career with your robust environmental "intelligence" applied liberally to your j-o-b!!
Environmental intelligence will be the new computer language for every job. Want that next promotion? Add another dimension to your accounting skills with the savvy knowledge to measure the sustainable payoff of fuel efficient operations. Or transition from an ordinary administrative manager with your knowledge of sustainable innovation in your industry. Shock your colleagues by applying new trends in waste recycling or green technology.
Getting started: The answer is right in front of you
The opportunities are only limited by your imagination but make no mistake - companies are looking for any strategic advantage. The employee that is a head of the pack in applying sustainable principles brings great value to the table. Here are a few places to start:
Green intelligence will impact every job, at every level. To get a jumpstart, volunteer with a local group, join a "green" website, read about environmental issues. Here are some of my favorites:
Volunteer. Keep America Beautiful has affiliates in a neighborhood near you. They are the experts on "recycle, reduce, and reuse". Join in, learn, volunteer, and join the fun.
Want a crash course in green technology? www.greentechnolog.com
Career-enhancing
reading: "Hot, Flat and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution and
How It Can Renew America,"
Thomas Friedman
Think Human Capital. Take a look at employee-focused sustainability at companies like Herman Miller and Interface Carpets. UPS plans to be the industry-leader with a Hydro-electric vehicle fleet (HEV). Talk about job security!
Learn the lingo. Lots of people use green terminology incorrectly. You'll have an advantage if you begin to grow your knowledge today. Start with the word "sustainability".
The best-known definition of sustainability or sustainable development is the definition by the World Commission on Environment and Development. This suggests that sustainability is defined as "forms of progress that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs." It doesn't necessarily mean a zero carbon footprint. Get it wrong and you're open to a charge of "green washing" - basically it means you're faking it.
Learn the lingo, -- you'll really impress your boss.
Run, don't walk - the sound you're hearing are all those recent graduates driving hybrid cars, chewing organic granola, measuring their carbon footprint. And gunning for your job.
America's Best Hope: You
Despite what you may have heard, American corporations are NOT the primary cause of global warming, pollution, or run away carbon emissions. According to the EPA, consumer transportation is the leading source of carbon emissions - driving our cars. Climate change in all its many forms from energy consumption, to waste management, to forest fires, it's all complicated. The solutions will be complicated and fixing it will take a variety of solutions and high-levels of innovation. We can't simply conserve our way to a greener future, we'll need lots of new ideas.
This is one area where the answers are worth their weight in gold. Forget the "old boys club", go directly to the head of the class with the sustainable idea you can measure on the bottom-line. Corporations, small business owners, and managers like you can play an important role in getting the job done. Learn all you can. Forget the $200 organic t-shirt, get beyond your addiction to bottled water. Start with your everyday awareness. We can do this.