How can I make sustainability matter to my peers?
Pull, don’t push
People don’t like being told what to do, and they especially don’t like when someone steps on their turf. Telling your school administrators or other teachers what needs to happen could theoretically work, but it will cause friction. Even when you’re armed with data that proves the vast benefits of moving towards sustainability, it’s likely you’ll antagonize some people by pushing them towards it, and by burning these bridges you’ll limit how far you go in the long term – no matter how good the data is.
The other route, which takes much longer and requires more patience, is to gradually pull them towards sustainability. Get them curious. While it’s possible to collect data and present it to the administration yourself all within a month, you’ll likely have far more allies and buy-in if you ‘go gently’, even if it takes two years.
2. Work on building positive relationships
Be careful not to tread on people’s toes. If you’re the person criticizing how things are being done and giving unsolicited advice, you’re not likely to win many allies. You may have a better way to run composting or recycling at your school, but instead of telling the person responsible that you have a better idea, let the data do the talking (unless, of course, someone asks for advice).
3. Celebrate what’s already being done
It’s so important to celebrate what has already been achieved with regards to sustainability in the school. Learn about what everybody’s doing already. In this way, people will feel appreciated for the work they’ve done, and you’ll invite more action rather than burn bridges by making people feel unappreciated, sidelined or criticized. This “Appreciative Inquiry” approach fosters collaboration and facilitates people’s strengths, with the focus on solutions rather than problems.
