Jason Lackner

Research existing tools that your team already has in place if time is critical, or research tools that aren’t in place if there is time before the next project(s) and evaluate what may work best. And if available, inquire if a pilot or test run can be accommodated. You do not want to invest a lot of time, money and energy to find out later that what you invested in will serve you no purpose or is not what is actually needed to succeed.

In addition, more organizations will be fitting out their space with activity based systems where employees have the power of choice as to where to sit and how to work. Biophilic design is also on the rise where the living environment is integrated into the built so occupants can connect more with nature.

Detach and reset. Attack your goal from a different angle. Stepping back to refocus will only help improve your view of the target. Regarding sustainability, remind yourself of how your small wins are adding to something much greater that sustainability professionals around the world are contributing to.

Connection is key. Like-minded individuals that support each other will reach their goals faster with better results. When I find myself frustrated on the brink of burnout with a sustainability effort, I connect with others on my team that are going through similar challenges and ask for advice and support. We might be able to help each other with solutions to each other's problems. Often times with a passion, we push so hard and expect instant results and become discouraged when goals aren't reached over night. This is why having a strong network of passionate sustainability professionals is important.

This can happen in any career type. The best way to manage this is to reflect and adjust. Set different goals to aim for and work toward achieving. Continue to educate yourself and apply what you have learned. Sometimes you just need to take a different approach to regain your passion. Remind yourself of what got you started on this journey in the first place.

Not everybody on a cross functional team is going to understand or see the value of sustainability. If you are leading the effort, you have the perfect opportunity to educate others on the importance of sustainability and how their efforts can contribute to success. Everybody has some form of value they can contribute. We as leaders need to find the best way to help others recognize how their experience and skillset can drive positive change.