BIG Ain’t Bad! – Why the Green Movement Needs to Start Working with Big Businesses

“Bigger is Better…” You big bully!”… “big guys shouldn’t pick on the little guys…” “Ya big lug!”… We’ve all heard phrases praising or condemning being BIG. We have a love hate relationship with BIG going back to time immemorial. If we think BIG is on our side, it’s good- “A BIG turnout for the election won it for our candidate”. If we don’t like what BIG is doing, it’s bad- “BIG corporations just can’t be trusted.”

But BIG is neither good nor bad. It’s just big! And therein lay the dangers and the opportunities. BIG has an impact, just due to size. And BIG companies, organizations, and institutions are not going away. There they are. So it’s critical that we do what we can to get BIG on the right path. [To comment on this article, click here.]

Some folks are just kneejerk against big -companies, government, whatever, both on the left and the right. The Tea Partiers hate big business and distrust government as much as WTO protesters. But I’ll let you in on a secret about what’s inside those big bad corporations. People. Lots of ‘em. They’re a lot like you and me. They eat food, breath air; drink water, care about the planet, their kids, their communities, and making their organization and the world a better place just like you and me. In all my years as a sustainability consultant to companies, big and small, I never once saw Darth Vader darting down a hallway or slipping into a corporate board room. Full disclosure: I did see a picture of Dick Cheney hanging on someone’s wall once.

A decade or so ago, my friends at Nike were reviled as sweatshop supporting, waste producing, elite capitalists. Well, they are capitalists, but Nike has been voted in the top Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethical Company lists worldwide for several years running now. They heard the call of the activists, their customers, and most importantly, the people who work in the places that make Nike products. And they responded by setting the global standard for workers in manufacturing facilities abroad, improving working conditions and lifting the prospects of thousands. They eliminated toxics from their products, slashed waste, reduced their carbon emissions by 75%, developed products like the Considered line of sustainable gear, and became a global champion for the rights and empowerment of women and girls. A big player, having a big, positive impact, while selling footwear and apparel to athletes both rich and poor.

BP “outed” the oil industry by getting behind carbon reduction and naming their industry as a big part of the problem. Wal-Mart brought 100 million CFL lights to middle America, not just deep green households, and set new waste standards and energy conservation standards for their whole supply chain. GE is a leader in cleantech, wind and other energy systems. These BIG firms did far more for the planet than the US government did over the past decade. SunTech is a multibillion dollar company based in China, the biggest coal burning, CO2 spewing country on the planet (Team USA is now second). As the name implies, SunTech is the largest solar energy company on Earth. You can find real problems with each of these firms as well, just like within ourselves. But here’s my point.

We need to reward and encourage BIG for doing the right thing, just as strongly as we point out and hold them accountable for doing the wrong thing. In this age of transparency, we have the power and the technology to uncover and name transgressions, as well as discover and bless good deeds and directions. Like we should do with kids, catch ‘em dong something good. Big companies are like big ships. It takes a lot of hands to steer them and to change direction. As consumers, stakeholders and citizens, instead of throwing rocks, we can throw ropes over the bow, and pulling hard, we can influence from within and without, getting BIG business to move in the biggest direction they can, toward the greatest good for all.

Greenopolis.com is dedicated to our users. We focus our attention on changing the world through recycling, waste-to-energy and conservation. We reward our users for their sustainable behaviors on our website, through our Greenopolis Tracking Stations and with curbside recycling programs.

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Posted via web from 3BL Media, CSR News, and Emily

Five Thoughtful Eco Gifts for Mom

ElegRoo Blog

Finding just the right gift for Mom can be tricky. How can you express “I love you,” “Thank you,” and “Sorry about my high school years” — all in one item she’ll treasure? Here are five gifts made with joy, love and care, and are as gentle to the earth as they are beautiful and unique — all characteristics you associate with your mom. These Mother’s Day selections support women’s collectives, artists, and fair trade, so they’re a gift to Mother Earth too.

All Elegant Roots gifts come beautifully packaged using organic and recycled gift wraps, free of charge, straight from the eco-friendly facilities who partner with us.

GOAT’S BEARD SEED ORBS by Seed Shaman
Seed Orbs allow a stunning glimpse into a secret of nature. Artist Richard Solomon, the “Seed Shaman,” hand-harvests seed pods from the “goat’s beard” plant and allows them to bloom in American-made glass globes. All vary in size, color, and number of seeds. Your Seed Orb can be placed atop glasses or grouped in glass bowls. Attach the hanging-cap and create a stunning ornament for the holidays or every day. This will delight all plant or nature lovers, gardeners, or anyone else who appreciates uniquely beautiful home accessories.

CIRCLES FROM AVENUE GREEN COLLECTION by C5
If your mom is classic, elegant, smart and one-of-a-kind, she’ll love Avenue Green’s “Circles” collection. Each piece is handmade in Bali from 100 percent reclaimed sterling silver, weaving design surprises into sleek and simple modern lines. These pieces are inspired by NYC’s South Bronx neighborhood, where multicultural urban living meets the natural beauty of the Bronx Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

HANDMADE ETHIOPIAN TOTE BAGS by Creative Women
These totes may look beautiful (and they are). but don’t be fooled — they’re durable and functional, as they’re crafted with green materials including an Egyptian cotton/rayon textile woven for strength and luster. Mom can use it a purse, exercise tote, knitting/ crafts bag, reuseable shopping bag, or in any other way that suits her lifestyle. These chic bags are crafted with care by Creative Women, a fair-trade women’s artisan collective in Ethiopia that gives its members rare opportunities for economic independence. Your mom’s gift will support other mothers and grandmothers in places of the world where good jobs are scarce.

KAKADOO JEWELRY by Dori Csengeri
Dori Csengeri’s vibrant jewelry is as bold and beautiful as the women who wear it, and has been showcased in Vogue, Glamour, Marie Claire and In Style. A gift from the Kakadoo Collection is equally appropriate for lively moms who command attention, or understated moms who want to add a pop of color to basic black. Designer Dori Csengeri produces this stunning line in Israel with other talented artists, using eco- conscious materials — gifts created for amazing women by amazing women.

NATURAL TRANQUILITY SPA SET by Sonoma Lavender
What better gift for Mom than refreshment and relaxation for a sore back, knotted neck or tired feet? Organic cotton booties and a body heatwrap come with organic lavender-and-flaxseed inserts, and are microwaveable for instant warmth. Mom will feel the tension drain away when she applies scented, aromatherapeutic heat at the end of a tiring day. Lavender is a universally appealing fragrance, and this Natural Lavender Footbalm is made with organic lavender from a Sonoma County, California family farm.

An item made with joy, by talented artisans, infuses love into your Mother’s Day gift. We can’t think of anything more appropriate for Mom.

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Posted via web from 3BL Media, CSR News, and Emily

Components of a Sustainable Lifestyle

Sustainability is becoming a new buzz word and with the passage of the stimulus package, the word sustainability has recently been tied to business.   However, yesterday, while visiting with a client in my role as a personal consultant, we explored sustainability as it relates to individuals and lifestyles. 

 Oftentimes, a person may have awareness or be educated on what to do for the environment but may have difficulty translating that knowledge into daily habits in their own life.  As a sustainability consultant and as a personal consultant, I’ve learned that there may be blind spots preventing us from taking action in certain areas.  As a result of our conversation yesterday, following are some areas to explore within your own sustainable lifestyle to determine where you can integrate more sustainable concepts into your life as well as bring eco awareness into the lives that you touch.  

  
Components of sustainable lifestyle:

• Organics: visit your local farmer’s market for organic fruits and veggies and use organic personal care and clothing from natural fibers.
• Recycling: recycle everything! Paper, materials, home items, and more!
• Energy efficiency: purchase energy efficient appliances.  Buy and use renewable or wind energy and monitor your use of energy.
• Water: get to know what is in your water and use it efficiently.
• Indoor air quality: use chemical free cleaners, live plants, sustainable fabrics and paint in your home. Your indoor air quality will improve and you’ll support sustainable businesses producing green products.
• Green your home
• Reduce your use of paper and eliminate junk mail
• Innovate and inspire your employer and coworkers and green your work
• Explore socially responsible investing
• Bring eco awareness to your workouts
• Green your travel

Sustainable lifestyle purchasing:

• Buy local
• Buy recycled
• Buy in bulk
• Buy environmental and socially responsible products/ services
• Purchase items with less packaging

The Personal side of a sustainable lifestyle:

• Commit to your own happiness.
• Connect daily with what inspires you. 
• Participate in community.
• Lead by example: getting friends, family, coworkers involved in bringing eco awareness to their lives. 
• Manage a work/ life balance is fulfilling to you.
• Embrace your passion: personal achievement and personal productivity

As a sustainability consultant, I am always looking for ways to bring eco awareness into my personal life and business.  If you need help in building a sustainable lifestyle or bringing eco awareness into an area of your life, we are here to help.

Posted via web from 3BL Media, CSR News, and Emily

Princeton University: A New Era in Social Economics

 Last Friday, April 9, 2010, something wonderful happened at Princeton University. 

David W. Miller, Director of Princeton’s Faith & Work Initiative, attempted to tackle the monumental job of “civilizing” the economy. No small task for anyone let alone the unusually courageous and innovative Miller. Formerly the Executive Director of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture, Miller also taught a popular course in the Management School, “Business Ethics: Succeeding without Selling Your Soul.”
 
The ebullient Miller holds a M.Div. and Ph.D in ethics from Princeton Theological Seminary and combines that with prior experience as a senior partner in a London Private Equity firm. Among his many achievements (he looks much too young to have done all these things), Miller also held a top executive position in the securities services and global custody division at HSBC. His combination of banking, academic, and theological expertise made him the perfect host for the one day business and spirituality conference dubbed, “Civilizing the Economy: A New way of Understanding Business Enterprise?”
 
Miller gathered inspirational leaders from academic, civic, religious, and business fields to discuss Pope Benedict XVI’s social justice encyclical, Charity in Truth – Caritas in Veritate and how it can be applied to the practical material world of business and economics. The conference was presented from the differing perspectives of economics, theology, employees & shareholders, and CEOs. The only downside was that there was not time to attend every panel and breakout session.
 
The “Economist’s Perspective” was moderated by Georges Enderle, Professor of International Business Ethics at the University of Notre Dame, and presented by Leonardo Becchetti, Faculty of Economics, University of Rome II, Charles Wilbur, Emeritus Professor of Economics from Notre Dame, and Paul Oslington, Professor of Economics from Australian Catholic University.
 
The charismatic Becchetti spoke of the important roles of trust and charity in daily business and referred to the solidarity principle of banking in his native Rome—one of the reasons he cited for the Italian banking industry’s relative stability throughout the economic crisis. His personal roles as economics professor, banking industry board member, and head of an active NGO allow him to develop a deeper understanding of how all three disciplines interconnect.
 
Moderator George Enderle, a world-renowned business ethics expert, conducts research on the ethical challenges of international business and corporate decision making. When this journalist asked the panel how to bridge the gap between economic theory and every economic reality, Enderle replied that one of the first approaches begins with teaching enlightened business practices in business school. “Everything emanates from social thought,” he said.
 
The panelists were full of innovative and practical insights in economic and spiritual dilemmas. One of the highlights of the economics breakout session was the wise words of the impressive Charles Wilbur, Enderle colleague and Notre Dame professor. Wilbur is currently researching moral values and the economy and has written several books and articles on ethics and economics. Wilbur gave a brief, but fascinating talk on how economics is often predicated upon “patching it up when things go bad” or “cleaning up the mess” left behind by economic failure. Wilbur stated that “economic decisions are moral decisions.” He urged economists to become more proactive in preventing crises, because “economic institutions and policies impact personal lives.” Wilbur referred to an article he wrote in September 2009 for America Magazine on how industry economists fell in love with the elegant math of their formulas and neglected the human application of its original purpose. In his powerful and brilliant article, Misleading Indicators: How U.S. Economists Missed the Great Recession, he wrote of the need to apply theory to human reality.
 
His words were so sincere and compelling they inspired me to do some research on the professor. To my delight I discovered that Charles Wilbur is one of the prime thought leaders on “social economics”- the humanizing of economic theory with real life. Wilbur wrote that mainstream economics is based on “soulless consumerism.” Social economics places the individual human experience at the center of economic theory – not simply as “economic actors,” but as “persons that live in community.”
 
The premise of social economics according to Wilbur’s paper is:
 
“The person is the basic unit of the economy…who acts freely but within certain limits, self-interestedly but often with regard for others, and calculatedly but at times impulsively, whimsically, or altruistically, in a self-regulating economy which from time to time must be constrained deliberately in order to serve the common goodand to protect the weak and the needy…
 
Social Economics “is not reducible to economic calculus because it rests squarely on the conviction that humans have a worth and dignity beyond measure.” (Ed O’Boyle, pp. 1-2 )
 
Okay I love this guy – the retired professor that is! Here I thought that the concept of intersecting economic theory with the economic reality of everyday people was new and cutting edge and apparently (according to Wilbur’s website) it was first developed in 1941 (The Association of Social Economics). The panel led to a wonderful discovery of the like-minded scholarly field of research similar to the “better world business” work we are currently focused on at GoodB.
 
The one sour note of the breakout session was the oddly inappropriate words of panelist Oslington who said among other uninspired utterings that, “Protestant social ethics should disappear from the face of the earth.” He recalled in his one year teaching at Princeton in 2006-07 of being dragged to a Presbyterian Church to listen to boring old social ethics doctrine. “They had no expertise. There were no theologians or economists present,” he remarked revealing his clear disdain for these “non-experts.” The oddity escalates when realizing that one of the key presenters of the conference was Kirk O.Hanson Professor of Social Ethics at Santa Clara University in California. Also, several social ethicists identified themselves subsequently in the lecture hall. However, since “experts and non-experts” make up the economic system, it seems clear that we would all benefit from a free exchange of ideas.
 
But no matter – the discussion and exchange of ideas on the moral and material fusion of business and society rocked the Ivy League Halls of the old patrician bastion. This was not your daddy’s or granddaddy’s Princeton get-together, this conference set the tone for 21st century “New Economics” and the socially responsible quest for moral money. Something Harvard, U Penn, Cornell, and Stanford have been doing for a few years already has finally caught hold of Old Nassau thanks to David Miller.
 
Other highlights of the conference included Christine Firer Hinze, Professor of Theology at Fordham and Geoffrey T. Boisi, Chairman and CEO of Roundtable Investment Partners, and senior partner from the old partnership days of Goldman Sachs pre-1999 when they traded and risked their own money. Ahh, the good old days…
 
David Miller remarked in the morning that while the conference was attended and presented by top CEOs and market makers from global corporations, we should never forget the small business people who make up much of the world’s markets and the innovative entrepreneurs who create new and cutting edge businesses every day. Here, here.
 
One last note on the conference … if I could improve anything, I would do one thing – make it longer. My only regret there just was not enough time to hear all of the presentations and speakers. Yet, the passionate focus on the common good left participants with renewed hope for a more civilized economy. We can only hope that this conference is the beginning of a fine new Princeton tradition.
 
 Reported by Monika Mitchell – Executive Director   editor@goodb.net

©2010 – All Rights Reserved
 
Click for GoodB Blog – provocative and informative.

Posted via web from 3BL Media, CSR News, and Emily

Eastern University Earth Day/Week Activities

In the spirit of Earth Day, which celebrates its 40th Anniversary this year, Eastern University students, faculty, staff, and alumni will participate in several events throughout the week of April 19-24.

 Earth Day, April 22: The Eastern University community will work together to create a new green space where the historic log cabin once stood. This event will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the island by the volleyball courts at the St. Davids campus at 1300 Eagle Road.

Solar Panels
Also on hand for Earth Day will be representatives of Community Energy, which installed and maintains solar panels on the roof of Eastern University’s Eagle Learning Center. These solar panels are now producing clean energy and reducing the University’s operating costs while lowering carbon emissions. Throughout the next 20 years, the 56-kilowatt solar system will reduce carbon emissions by 839 metric tons, which is equivalent to the carbon that would be removed by planting 755 acres of trees.

A new online solar energy monitor shows how the solar panels on the roof of Eagle Learning Center are operating each day. View it at: http://siteapp.fatspaniel.net/siteapp/simpleView.jsf?eid=416481
 
The solar system is financed through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with PA-based renewable energy developer and marketer, Community Energy, Inc. and constructed by PA-based solar installation company Dynamic Solar. Under the PPA, Community Energy will own and operate the system, which enables Eastern to take advantage of the renewable power source without funding the system’s purchase up front. Community Energy will sell Eastern electricity produced by the system at a locked-in rate for 20 years, insulating the University from rising energy costs.
 
“Community Energy is proud to join Eastern University in developing this project that will bring clean, fuel-free electricity to the campus,” said Brent Alderfer, president and chief executive officer of Community Energy. “The solar Power Purchase Agreement is a great way for colleges and universities to reap the cost benefits of solar power without a large initial capital investment.”
 
“The development of the solar market in Pennsylvania has – for the first time – made solar a prudent economic and environmental option,” said Michael Perillo, president and chief executive officer of Dynamic Solar.
 
Community Energy has worked with Eastern University since 2006 to provide Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from wind farms to offset the electricity used on campus with clean, fuel-free energy. The St. Davids campus is 100% wind energy powered through a student-led initiative that began in 2001.
 
Student Earthkeepers
Tuesday, April 20: The student group Earthkeepers is hosting two other events during Earth Week.  On Tuesday, April 20, they will show the NO IMPACT MAN film at 7 p.m. in the Eagle Hall Great Room on campus. Viewers will enjoy handmade, organic pizza while viewing a film on one family’s adventure living a “no environmental-impact” life for one year.
 
Saturday, April 24: Beginning at noon, there will be a CAMPUS-WIDE GREEN OLYMPICS  starting on the volleyball courts.  Teams of three people will compete in three events:
* Bicycle Relay (bring your own or we can provide one)
* Canoe on the lake
* Orienteering in the woods of Eastern University
Each team should get minimum sponsorship of $30. There will be the following prizes: Gold is a $50 gift card to Out There Outfitters. Silver is a $25 gift card to Wayne Theaters. Bronze is an SIGG Bottle.
Spectators are welcome and refreshments will be sold. All proceeds will go to an inner-city environmental education program.
 
For Earthkeeper events, contact: bethany.skinner@gmail.com  or brittanybennett.01@gmail.com

 
For more information about Eastern University, or directions to the campus, visit: www.eastern.edu
 
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Posted via web from 3BL Media, CSR News, and Emily

CRM: Golden Nugget for Sustainability in Business

As a sustainability consultant, a golden nugget for me is transforming a traditional business process into a sustainable one that incorporates values such as efficiency and eco awareness.  It’s golden when it helps businesses profitability as well as helps the environment.

 CRM is definitely the Swiss Army Knife in the business plan toolbox for small businesses committed to increase sales, improve efficiencies and build a sustainable business.  CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management. It is a process or methodology used to learn more about customers’ needs and behaviors in order to develop stronger relationships with them.  Typical CRM software includes:
 

• Sales Force Automation: contact management/ lead management
• Customer Service: call center and/ or help desk software
• Partner Relationship Management: contract management software

 
The benefits of small businesses using a CRM system to build business sustainability include the development of better relations with your prospects, customers, and stakeholders.  The successful implementation of a CRM system can contribute to business sustainability by:
 

• Identifying needs more effectively by understanding specific customer requirements
• Effective targeted marketing communications aimed specifically at customer needs
• A more personal approach and the development of new or improved products and services in order to win more business in the future
• Enhanced customer satisfaction and retention, ensuring that your good reputation in the marketplace continues to grow. 
• increased value from your existing customers and reduced cost associated with supporting and servicing them, increasing your overall efficiency and reducing total cost of sales

Web Based CRM systems offer added sustainability functionality allowing for access for remote users and a central document repository.  Currently, Salesforce is the most popular web based CRM system but others to consider include: Infusion and LeadMaster. 

Implemented successfully, Contact Management Software is a great tool for small business to build business sustainability.

Posted via web from 3BL Media, CSR News, and Emily

Why Earth Day Is More Than Recycling That Stack of Paper

As we head closer to Earth Day, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, I wanted to update you on all the exciting elements we have planned for the next two weeks. Yes, while we all relate to the significance of the day as consumers who are gradually changing from chemical to natural, synthetic to organic, this Earth Day resonates with us at a much more personal level as informed professionals. With a static national unemployment rate and the economy barely past its recessionary level, we have a new decade of business to get used to. A green decade, that is.

  Green jobs

  And I say that not only because every expert I have spoken to predicts that the green job market will be responsible for propelling us out of this recession, but also because the few states that have managed to deter the rising unemployment scale are the ones who have taken on renewable and alternative energy projects as their mainstay for job creation. So, whether you are a job seeker, an executive or a professional looking to make a career move within your company or to another, the basics of the needs, demands and specializations the green job market offers will serve you well in your career path.

  There is also another aspect that distinguishes Earth Day’s 40th anniversary from any other year. It’s the fact that CSR as a policy, a strategic choice and as a conversation is finally beginning to make a conscious presence in the office. While there is a long way to go for corporate social responsibility to be immersed in the way business is conducted, the argument and the discussion for its case is finally making the transition from advocacy to active board room contentions.

  Corporate Social Responsibility

  So this year we wanted to commemorate the day by focusing on two key aspects: 1) That sustainability and the Triple Bottom Line (People, Planet, Profit) as a way of thinking, whether you are strategizing new products and services, or making decisions of what company to work in, is inevitable to pervade our career life; and 2) The green job market, while requiring technical skills for some very specific jobs, remains accessible to all professional backgrounds and skill sets. And if it is going to be the great game changer of the decade for job creation, you might just want to be a part of it.

  Celebrating Earth Day

  In that spirit, below are some of the interviews and discussions planned for the coming weeks that we hope will provide you with necessary and relevant context for embarking on a talk on inculcating sustainability in your company and/or deciding on a green career.
1) Interview with Chief Sustainability Officer at EMC, Kathrin Winkler
2) Interview with Jeffrey Hollender, co-founder of Seventh Generation and CSR advocate
3) Book Review: The Responsibility Revolution: How the Next Generation of Businesses Will Win

  And of course, here are some links to recent discussions and info on green careers, the green job market, peek into typical days in the life of green professionals and much more!

  –”Go Green, Get Hired“: Interview with Chris Russell, a veteran of the online job search business and founder of green job search engine Greenjobspider.com.
–Seven Reasons on Why Green is the Next Great Job Market: Guest Blog by Chris Russell
–Day in the Life: Chief Sustainability Officer
–Day in the Life: Sustainability Consultant

  Aman Singh is the CSR Editor at Vault.com, where she focuses on how corporate diversity practices and sustainability translate into recruitment and strategic development. Her blog, In Good Company, discusses on many of these issues.

Posted via web from 3BL Media, CSR News, and Emily

Great Campaign from Starbucks and Free coffee!

Cliff Burrows, President of Starbucks Coffee U.S., spoke about their efforts to limit the environmental impact of coffee consumption at Fortune Magazine’s Brainstorm Green conference. According to Burrows, they have made big strides in how coffee is grown and now one of their largest impacts is the coffee cups. Out of the millions of coffees they sell every day, only one percent are served in reusable mugs.
 
Starbucks wants to increase that number, but according to Burrows, the incentive of saving a dime is not enough. So, for today only, they are giving free coffee to anyone who brings their own reusable coffee to a Starbucks. I got mine this morning on the way to the office.
 
Here’s the video that Burrows showed at the conference and is prominently posted on their web site today.

I first heard about the event through a Facebook ad that led me to their event page, where I am one of almost 250,000 attendees as of this blog post. I also came across a paid tweet that said ” and linked to a page on their web site called The Big Picture. Far from being an intrusive Twitter ad, it had already been retweeted more than 100 times.
 
This is a great campaign where Starbucks is very openly owning up to their biggest environmental weakness and inviting their customers to address it with them. So, what are you waiting for? Go get your free coffee without hurting the planet!
 
Nathan Schock’s personal blog, Greenway Communique,  is the primary hub for communicating sustainability and bringing people together who do the same.

Posted via web from 3BL Media, CSR News, and Emily

Developing Personally – Thinking Globally – Moving beyond McLeadership

In 2008, as my colleagues and I were exploring our concepts around socially responsible leadership, I had an opportunity to spend a week in northern Mexico serving in a community food program. The challenge we tasked ourselves with was to fully immerse ourselves in the culture and to contribute in a way that met the needs of the community with a focus on the development of capacity rather than aid. As we crossed the border into Mexico I realized that for the first time in my adult life I was the wrong gender and colour. I had no language, in fact I had little to offer other than a heart for serving and a desire to learn.   What they taught me was the meaning of community. A lesson so powerful and evocative that even the smell of fresh cilantro sharpens both my senses and my memories and brings the experience rushing back. 
 
Learning is a basic human function. We are primed to learn from our first precious minutes of existence. While babies are interacting with and learning about their environment they are creating new connections and pathways between nerve cells both within their brains, and between their brains and bodies. While physical growth and change is easily observed and measured, cognitive and psychosocial change and development is a little harder to determine as clearly.
 
The kind of learning that has the greatest impact on adult learners (and therefore the greatest possibility for transformation) is the kind of learning that takes place when an adult is fully immersed in the learning experience.   When the individual’s heart, mind and body are fully engaged in the experience powerful and often transformational change occurs. Barbara K. Given in her book, “Teaching to the Brain’s Natural Learning Systems”, identifies five major systems: emotional, social, cognitive, physical, and reflective. The Greeks had a word that describes learning of this magnitude…metamorphoo. It is learning that literally renews the mind.
 
Most traditional training events fall far short of the five natural learning modalities. Warren Bennis addresses this in his seminal work, “On Becoming a Leader”. Bennis suggests that leadership cannot be learned in a weekend training seminar…”I’ve come to think of that one as the microwave theory: pop in Mr. or Ms. Average and out pops McLeader in sixty seconds.” Our most powerful learning experiences in life typically take place in a total immersion environment when all five of the natural learning modalities are present and we are able to gather information from ourselves, our colleagues/friends, and our environment.
 
 Erik Erikson described a pivotal stage in adult psychosocial development as generativity vs. stagnation. A hallmark of this stage in adulthood is the growing desire to contribute to society and to guide the coming generations. Erikson postulates that as we work toward the betterment of society a sense of accomplishment and generativity results. Researchers claim that this stage of psychosocial development is actually the intersection of society and the human life cycle. Erikson’s theory teaches us that when this desire for generativity is stifled a kind of stagnation permeates our lives with a growing sense of alienation and disenfranchisement.   It would seem that ongoing adult learning and development is as critical to our world as the glorious wonderment of our children’s first years.
 
Where do you turn for your generative conversations and experiences? Do you think there’s more to life than paying the power bill? Are you interested in thinking deeply about the developing world and developing communities and your place within it?     If so, maybe an immersion experience is just what you’re looking for. Sure beats stagnation… 

 

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Posted via web from 3BL Media, CSR News, and Emily

What’s Your Return on Integrity?

Over the last few years, “authenticity” has been the word that has resonated most within the corporate responsibility world. While it’s still fundamentally important for corporations to ensure that stakeholders perceive their actions as genuine, “integrity” has emerged as a defining characteristic of corporate responsibility that is re-shaping the language we use in this area. 

The idea of “return on integrity” is at the heart of new thinking about corporate responsibility. Here’s a working definition: “The extent to which a corporation’s performance as a business is influenced and measured by how it addresses the social priorities of its employees and external stakeholders and the degree to which its actions are consistently responsible in all areas.”

Putting priority on return on integrity means that corporations also accept the need to measure it alongside conventional ROI. This means utilizing new systems and tools that are able to benchmark, measure, and assess outcomes that are largely qualitative (e.g. the value of aligning with a social issue or partnering with a community organization).

Today, return on investment + return on integrity = better performance.

Posted via web from 3BL Media, CSR News, and Emily