Psychology is the X factor for unlocking action on climate and ecological crises.
What does this mean for us?
We already know a lot about how change happens and that it happens differently whether it’s individually, at scale, in organizations, societies or networks. Yet many leaders and teams in business, non-profits and government still lack the resources to effectively awaken people’s own capacities for change. We can equip ourselves and our teams by learning new ways of being in the world. We know that cheerleading, pushing, cajoling, persuading, incentivizing, tricking or shaming do not work. Instead we can use a new approach that starts with listening, presence and guiding. It’s serious existential change management. It's a new way to cultivate ‘change leadership.’ And it’s challenging. But what better work is there to be doing right now?
Managing existential change is daunting. What if there was another way?
Leaders and their teams are experiencing immense pressure. Companies, foundations and governments are setting sustainability goals, targets and metrics to navigate the planetary crisis. Despite all this activity and attention, transforming the way we live and work can feel like an uphill battle.
As a leader, you may find that your usual change management strategies are not working. Maybe you feel compelled to talk louder, but it seems no one is listening. You introduce incentives for sustainability champions, but there’s little progress, and you wonder why. You may even wonder “do people really care?”
To change the trajectory of the world, we must first change the way we lead.
Evidence suggests that people do care, but our past leadership experiences have not prepared us to engage people on the right terms. Psychology, when combined with strategy and scale, holds a profound and untapped key to effective engagement on complex change. Research shows that if people are truly heard, understood and included, we deliver more quickly on our goals – together. To achieve this, we need to build a new mindset and skill set as leaders. These inner capabilities drive our outer goals.
Partners + Clients
Whether engaged as a speaker, advisor, or partner, to businesses, governments, or non-profits, I’ve been fortunate enough to work with organizations such as Google, VMware, PBS, Citizen’s Climate Lobby, HuffPo, Transport for London, Center for Sustainable Energy, WWF and the White House. These experiences have proven that even from messy and complicated beginnings profound organizational transformation can happen.
This is about humility and courage.
Psychology, when applied skillfully, is the X factor for unlocking action on our planetary crises. My expertise in communications strategy, psychology, and climate means I can help guide you to drive sustainable behavior change, and foster emotional intelligence in your teams, by translating your strategy into concrete tools that drive action and change.
My approach
I’m regularly invited to weigh in on climate and change management topics by the media and business thought leaders. Whether it’s on the TED talk stage, at the White House or advising Big Tech, people seek me out for my deep expertise in climate psychology and change management.
(To get a better idea of how I work, watch this conversation with a senior Google executive, on how to drive change at scale and the implications for sustainability leadership. Notice the humility; this is leadership.)
