At one time, the primary goal of a business past the startup phase was to grow, and while this is still a primary target, sustainability is quickly becoming the new way to approach business and enterprise. With government climate target clear for all to see, it’s up to businesses to adapt.
However, although sustainability means reduction and de-growth to some business owners, it doesn’t have to. In reality, there are plenty of ways to continue with a growth strategy and still contribute to climate change targets and sustainability practices. Read on to find out more.
Focus on Growth Goals
Creating a successful and sustainable business requires a dualistic approach; on the one hand, you need to continue with the day-to-day operations of the business without sacrificing any on the comfort, utility, or convenience of customers, and on the other, you need to be sustainable.
The growth goals for your business should be well-known to the leaders and managers in your organization; however, this might need to be adapted in line with sustainability management. Tale a top-down approach and decide on your sustainability targets before making any changes.
Innovation Alternatives
As a business interested in sustainability practices, you need to be on the lookout for innovative alternatives to conventional infrastructure and processes. If you still operate an in-house IT team, for instance, it might be time to partner with a managed service provider (MSP) instead.
Managed service providers are an example of an innovation that allows companies to reduce their overhead and make their internal processes more efficient, reducing energy consumption. Another example is Process Behavior Charting which helps to optimize your business internally.
Employee Engagement
If you are committed to creating a sustainable company, then you need the backing and ongoing support of your employees and managers. When it comes to sustainable business practices, everyone needs to be on the same page, even with the looming specter of automation in the air.
Even with full automation, human resources will still be required to operate the machines and oversee protocols. In order to achieve long-term sustainability, it’s important to encourage sustainable practices in your workforce, such as digital workstations and fewer air miles.
Train new Skills
The nature of the workforce is changing as new technologies emerge and new pressures are felt from governments and the general public. In response, companies need to develop sustainability practices in-line with commercial expectations; this sometimes requires re-training.
New skillsets are sought after in the workplace; people need to understand analytics, plan processes to reduce waste, and manage projects sustainably. Often, these skills are not taught in schools and universities; on-the-job training is required to ensure that staff is competent.
Adapt to Change
A successful business will have a suite of products, processes, and infrastructure that forms the foundation of the business. It’s easy to assume that this infrastructure is fail-safe and will carry the business effortlessly to the next phase of growth. But, change is more likely to happen.
Adapting to changes and re-modeling your business to suit emerging processes is one of the best ways to secure future success and remain relevant in the commercial world. So, whether it means adapting to new technologies or re-training your existing staff, it pays to be flexible.
Productive Partnerships
Naturally, it makes sense to use your existing resources as far as possible to keep the costs of the business as low as possible and ensure your growth is profitable and sustainable. However, some processes require outside assistance, and it’s a good idea to know the best avenues.
Business partnerships are not only effective; they are important for the perception of your business. For example, if you partner with a managed service provider for your IT facilities, it immediately makes your business appear more sustainable in the eyes of customers.
Disaster Preparation
Whether it is a technical disaster such as an issue with your network during an important time of year, or something outwith your control like the Coronavirus pandemic, you need to be ready for any disaster that comes your way. Disaster planning keeps your business alive and profitable.
Thankfully, the digital infrastructure available at the time of the global pandemic allowed businesses to move online without too much trouble; however, there are other scenarios that might halt businesses more permanently. So, improve your disaster planning for the future.
Final Thoughts
One of the main goals of any business is to grow and become more profitable, but as the world changes and adapts to new ways of working and new problems, de-growth strategies, and sustainability practices are the order of the day. So, find your best business sustainability model.
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