Of course, one could advise you to speak with passion to your colleagues!
Provide them with helpful guides and resources.
Finally, push motivation by outlining how important sustainability is and how it can improve their project’s data.
The issue is that it doesn’t work…
That’s also why I will not share any resources with you today.
Instead, here are three false assumptions that cost me a lot of time:
Be cautious:
Excitement in conversation does not necessarily translate into action. People may be very ambitious with their words, but without a concrete plan, they probably won’t start.
Providing information ≠ providing help:
Everyone feels better with some useful guides and protocols at hand. It feels like half the work is done. And this is the issue. Nobody wants to spend time going through material and read long texts. It’s often too much for people to figure out solutions themselves. They need to be provided.
Sharing many examples of what can be done is dangerous:
People need tailored solutions for their problems, not more ideas on what could be done. Either you provide doable solutions (preferably to be implemented within 24-48 hours), or you will overwhelm them.
How to do it better:
As discussed last week, firstly, ask extensively:
1) What people are willing to try? (identify concerns or false beliefs)
2) What do they expect in terms of difficulty and feasibility?
3) What do they concretely need to take action?
Then, you often need to create solutions for (or with) them. Otherwise, direct them to the sources that answer their questions without necessitating much additional reading.
Sounds like a lot of effort? It is… This is why you need to choose where to put effort wisely.
Pro Tip:
You need to follow up to remind people to take action. You can ask, “Would you like me to remind you or follow up on making the change?”
You lost…
Here is why:
If you ask them about catching up, they will likely decline because, in that moment, they feel overly confident and motivated. You make them think about whether they are able to take action (not how they will take action).
Instead, ask, “There is more. When should we catch up and talk about the next possible steps?”
In this way, you can keep them accountable while providing additional motivation. Some people will be curious about what the next step is, while others will see it as a reward for the change.
Applying The Knowledge
Researchers are not yet used to thinking about sustainability. That's why every minute spent on it can make them feel like they're "cheating" on their work. And even though a sustainable approach can improve their results, they all their priority is generating data.
The two major concerns for scientists are time and data quality. Unless you hear them express these concerns and find concrete solutions with them, it is unlikely that you will see results.
Often, it doesn't matter what people say. What counts is whether you can provide them with concrete solutions, and find a way to remind them without annoying them too much.
Upcoming Lesson:
Unexpected risks and benefits of sustainable practice!
