Now it’s time to put all of your hard work to the test. In this step, you’ll put the plan you created into action, communicate your efforts to staff, leadership and stakeholders, motivate your employees to participate, and track your progress along the way. Up until now, leadership and the Green Team have been responsible for the tasks included in each step. Depending on your plan, this step will likely require effort from everyone in your organization.
Communicate, Act, and Track Progress: Task by Task
- Execute your plan.
It sounds simple, but the implementation phase will only be as good as your plan allows. Make sure you refer to and update your action plan consistently throughout the implementation phase. Recall that your plan should include tasks for installing measures or technologies, tracking metrics, communicating progress, engaging employees, managing risks, and overall program administration.
- Communicate progress.
As noted earlier, communication is the most important attribute of a successful sustainability plan. You need to clearly communicate your goals and your progress to leadership, staff and other stakeholders, and you’ll want to recognize your accomplishments along the way. This will ensure that employees are engaged, that leadership is supportive, and that your organization is held accountable for reaching the goals you established. Communications should have been planned as part of The planning process. Refer to and update your action plan consistently throughout the implementation phase.
- Engage employees.
Different from communications, employee engagement includes the strategies you’ll use to motivate your staff to participate in the sustainability program. This might include competitions, internal marketing campaigns, and pledge drives. Consider referring to Fostering Sustainable Behavior, and the accompanying website www.CBSM.com, as a resource to help you identify strategies for this work. The list below shows an example of key employee engagement strategies.72 Employee engagement should have been planned as part of the planning process. Refer to and update your action plan consistently throughout the implementation phase.
- Track progress.
This includes monitoring progress according to your action plan, and noting where adjustments can be made when necessary. Refer to and update your action plan consistently throughout the implementation phase.
Tools and Considerations
- Refer to the charter.
The charter document should be an ongoing tool for each step along the way. While implementing your plan, it’s crucial to remember what you’re trying to accomplish in the first place. Without referring back to the charter document, you risk getting off- track and doing things that are irrelevant or out of the scope of expectations set by leadership.
- Metrics tracking tools.
Your tracking tools should be easy to use and easy to read. Choose tracking tools wisely, and use them to their fullest.
