Abby Litchfield, NBS’s Community Manager, reflects on what she learned in her first sustainability-focused job.
Transition always inspires reflection. After 4.5 years working at the Network for Business Sustainability, I’ll be transitioning to the next step in my sustainability journey. While preparing for my transition, my colleague Chelsea asked me: “What have you learned, so far, about working in sustainability? What lessons will you take forward with you? What would you pass on?”
There are endless things to say, but these are 5 key learnings that my time managing sustainability collaborations at NBS has gifted me. I wanted to share them, in case they are helpful to others just starting their sustainability careers!
1. Don’t neglect ‘the basics.’
When you are communicating about sustainability with people who aren’t as immersed in it as you, it can be tempting to jump straight to discussing the complex solutions you spend your days thinking about. It can even feel tiresome to rehash “the basics” – what the problems are, why they’re happening, etc. – especially when the need for action is so urgent. But, like it or not, most people don’t think about these issues as much as you do. To help others start thinking about solutions, we often need to start at the beginning. If you skip the step where you talk about the basics of sustainability, you’ll miss the opportunity to bring new folks into the conversation.
At NBS, we saw this in the demand (and larger viewership) for our Basics series – a set of articles giving basic background on a range of sustainability topics. The researchers in our network are studying cutting edge topics, but many of our content readers were seeking answers to questions like “What is the circular economy and what does it look like in practice? What are the biggest drivers of biodiversity?” While the answers to these questions are still complex in their own right, we called this series “The Basics” because it’s the fundamental — and necessary — information that sets the stage for more complex and solutions-oriented articles and discussions.
2. Don’t forget to fill your own cup.
As an extremely keen new graduate entering the world of full-time work in 2021, I thought nothing mattered more than getting a job in the field I care about. I didn’t think too much about which day-to-day activities might give me energy back, or how I might sustain the fiery spirit I brought to my work. A few years in, I learned how important those elements were. As grateful as I am to care so deeply about my work, I’ve learned it isn’t enough to sustain my energy on its own. If anything, it might even put me at more risk of burning out. If I constantly take in (often bad) news about what’s going on in the world, and pour myself into the few actions that I can control as an individual, it takes an emotional toll on me. If I don’t take care of myself, I run out of the energy to keep pouring.
So, here’s what I’ve found helps to sustain my energy:
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Surrounding myself with a community of people “fighting the good fight.” Working in a sustainability organization conveniently builds some of that community right in — but working remotely meant that I also had to look beyond my organization, toward local groups like the Centre for Social Innovation coworking space.
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Finding an emotional outlet. For me, that has largely been making music! Other things also help me release stress, like hot yoga and getting out in nature.
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Learning which tasks make my heart sing. Even when it’s in service of your passion, not every task is going to feel fun, energizing, and meaningful. You’ll probably need to slog through a few things you don’t enjoy. BUT, the magic of working in a team of diverse humans is that someone else might just love the thing that makes you want to poke your eyes out. Take time to learn what you like — and what others like — and try to shape your role around the tasks that make you happy!
3. No one can do it alone, but we all have a role to play.
When I first started thinking about what I wanted to do in sustainability, I spent a lot of time considering questions like: Which sector is best positioned for impact? Which types of organizations can make the biggest difference? While I still think those questions are useful, I’ve learned to let go, a little, of obsessing over “answers.” Increasingly, I recognize that there’s no single “perfect” organization equipped to solve the climate crisis. Each sector and organization have their strengths and weaknesses, just as we all do as individuals.
It’s easy to question whether you’re doing the most right and aligned thing you could possibly do. When I feel like I’m spiraling down that rabbit hole, I remind myself of this quote, from Ursula Wolfe-Rocca: “It can be overwhelming to take in all the injustices of the moment; the good news is that they’re all connected. So, if your little corner of work involves pulling at one of the threads, you’re helping to unravel the whole damn cloth.” This helps me refocus on the role I can play today. Which opportunities do I have, within my existing world and network and community, to make a difference? We all play many roles in our lives, and I believe we’re all equipped to have positive impact through each of them, one thread at a time.
4. Collaboration is useful, but it has a cost.
When it comes to sustainability action, I am a big believer in the power of collaboration, both across and within sectors. No organization or individual has all the capabilities required for solutions; we’re stronger together.
But after experimenting with many different types of collaboration, I’ve also learned to be more thoughtful about when to say, “yes, let’s partner!” It turns out that two organizations having similar goals isn’t necessarily enough of a reason for them to work together. Coordination costs are real – and are sometimes more costly than the outcome is worth.
This was a tough thing for me to recognize, as someone who simply loves working with people. I feel inclined to say “yes” to every invitation to collaborate with other wonderful, values-aligned people. But, if your specific goals aren’t completely aligned with your prospective partner’s goals, or both parties have duplicative rather than complementary skills, the extra meetings and emails required to do something “together” may not be worth it.
5. Be scrappy.
One unfortunate (current) reality of sustainability work is that it’s largely under-resourced. Whether it’s a nonprofit struggling to stay funded, or a corporate team treated as an afterthought, more often than not, the sustainability teams are stretched thin. So, I learned to be “scrappy,” and make the most of the resources I had. For example, I learned to wear many hats. If I didn’t know how to do something, I’d ask Google or a friend. I also tried to keep my technology tools simple and versatile, looking for ways to improve tedious manual processes without overcomplicating things with too many tools.
Buckle in for a life-long ride.
When I shared my next career steps – joining the team at the Science-Based Targets Network – with members of the NBS community, a few said “I’m so glad to hear you’re sticking with sustainability work!” This makes me laugh a little. While sustainability work has its challenges, I can’t imagine doing anything else. Now that I’ve had the privilege of creating positive impact through my work, it’s something I never want to give up! If you get a taste of it, I’d bet you’ll feel the same! So, cheers to a life of contributing to social justice, ecological regeneration, and beyond!
Thank you, Network for Business Sustainability!
I’ll always be grateful to everyone I’ve encountered through NBS. To our wonderful team of staff (past and present!), the Sustainability Centres Community, our content contributors, partners, and readers: you have consistently inspired me, and shown me what it means to have a career dedicated to positive impact. This is a gift I’ll cherish for the rest of my life. Thank you!
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