More sustainable organization? The young generation will help us!
While the current generation is still struggling with the digital transformation, we are already in the middle of the sustainability transformation. Can we handle that at the same time, and how?
There are more and more rules for sustainable business, social responsibility and the reports to show that you as an organization comply with the rules. See also my previous blog — How sustainable is my organization? For the current generation, sustainable regulation may feel like a “must”. If you do not comply with laws and regulations, you are not compliant, you will be faced with sanctions. But we’re already so busy… To keep up, and maybe even to keep our heads above water and survive. A period of Covid, war, energy crisis and unpredictable natural disasters does not help us. On the other hand, it also forces us to think and change.
The digital transformation helps to become more efficient, effective and better. Lean process optimization and Agile product development has in many cases actually resulted in cost savings, faster delivery times, faster problem resolution times, and better quality, flow and customer value.
But things could be much better if, in addition to Lean processes and Agile-developed products, we pay much more attention to culture, behavior and good leadership. A lot of research has been done into this and it shows that the right mindset and organizational culture is a huge success factor in organizational change. Or a failure factor if you don’t pay attention to it.
Good leadership is needed to create that culture. Support, facilitate and make time for developing the mindset and culture.
This is where the digital and sustainable transformation will meet and reinforce each other. Because good leadership must become green leadership, in order to include sustainability in the transformation and embed it in the culture of the organization. This in itself attracts new people from the younger generation, who feel strongly addressed and like to be part of sustainable organisations. They will help to not only work Agile, but also to be Lean and Green.
Of course, what I describe above is a simplified representation of reality. The culture has to grow, and that cannot be done in one quarter. The young generation will understand the challenges of the current generation and vice versa, the current generation will gain more appreciation for sustainable developments. But that takes time.
Green Leaders realize this and create time to understand and learn from each other. We are happy to help you become a Green Leader, with our Green Leadership program and the accompanying model.
The original article was published in Dutch on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/duurzamere-organisatie-de-jonge-generatie-gaat-ons-helpen-
