What do you do if your sustainability goals are being hindered by obstacles?

From the perspective of a conference producer/event manager, when faced with obstacles hindering sustainability goals, I don't relent; I innovate. I seek collaborative solutions, challenge norms, and leverage technology to overcome barriers. Two of my go-to steps are: 1. Bring together key stakeholders including suppliers, vendors, and venue management to discuss challenges and brainstorm solutions collaboratively. 2. Assess the entire supply chain to identify areas where sustainability can be improved

To overcome setbacks in sustainability goals, first, identify barriers—internal resistance or external supply chain issues. Understand root causes for a strategic approach. Acknowledge complexity; tackle with multifaceted solutions.

When sustainability initiatives are challenged and progress is not on track then reassess the parameters. Evaluate the rules of challenges you're facing and evaluate if these challenges were anticipated or not at the time of risk management or materiality assessment. Reassess the challenges and identify the vulnerable areas which are responsible for hindering the progress in the sustainability journey. It is necessary to diagnose the situation accurately to get your sustainability back on track with corrective efforts.

When sustainability goals face obstacles, first, identify and understand the specific challenges, then assess root causes and develop action plans to overcome them. Engage stakeholders in collaborative problem-solving and allocate resources strategically to support implementation. Monitor progress closely, adapt strategies as needed, and communicate transparently about the obstacles, actions taken, and progress achieved. By taking proactive steps and maintaining flexibility, organizations can overcome obstacles and drive meaningful progress towards sustainability goals.

When faced with insurmountable obstacles, consider realigning sustainability goals. It's not about surrender, but about setting realistic targets within current constraints. Prioritize achievable objectives, breaking them into smaller, incremental steps to maintain momentum and celebrate progress, fostering motivation within your team.

After re-evaluation and reassessing of the sustainability challenges realign your sustainability goals in accordance with the initial success projected for sustainability initiatives within the organization. Consider all the limitations and bottlenecks that cause the sustainability goals to realign with new sustainability strategy. Closely monitor the new success ratios of new strategy and see whether the realignment of the new goals is fulfilling the desired results or not. Keep regular monitoring till project success is ensured and sustainability goals are delivered.

Engaged all relevant stakeholders while changing or realising the new strategy to follow to ensure the success of the sustainability journey. It is necessary to onboard all stakeholders such as investers, employees, customers, regulators, shareholders etc. and asking for their feedback while redefining the strategy to achieve the desired sustainability success. This collaboration with stakeholders will foster a transparent feedback mechanism which is a necessary ingredient to ensure successful execution of sustainability initiatives which eventually will accomplish the goals. Further, such collaborations will result in diverse and innovative solutions against the challenges that cause hindrance in achieving a milestone.

This field is still new to many people. Perhaps it is a case of misunderstanding what you want to do. Stakeholder engagement is one way of mitigating such a challenge. Consider sharing information in a positive manner about the issues you are addressing in your strategy. Involve stakeholders by asking for feedback and opinions. Perhaps invite industry experts for sharing sessions and talks.

Engaging stakeholders is crucial amid sustainability obstacles. Whether employees, customers, or community members, their cooperation is vital. Transparent communication about challenges and soliciting input fosters collaboration. Their diverse perspectives can offer innovative solutions previously overlooked.

When traditional sustainability routes are blocked, exploring alternatives is enlightening. Embrace new technologies, materials, or methods. Flexibility and experimentation are crucial. Sustainability evolves; effective solutions often stem from thinking outside the box.

If current solutions are not delivering the promised success then look for alternatives quickly to make sure that you are not far behind in terms of project success. For that quickly identify your requirements that will help you recover in terms of measuring success in the sustainability journey. The alternatives may include technology changes, process changes, new sourcing etc.

Rather than solely seeking external solutions, introspection and strategic allocation of internal assets can yield significant breakthroughs. It's about leveraging what you have in novel ways, repurposing and reimagining, rather than solely focusing on acquiring new resources. Moreover, forming alliances with like-minded entities amplifies collective strengths and fosters a synergistic approach towards shared sustainability goals. This collaborative spirit not only enhances resource access but also cultivates a rich tapestry of ideas, experiences, and expertise, ultimately magnifying the impact far beyond individual capabilities.

Sustainability goals will have barriers. !!! Nothing worth doing is easy. The best way to resolve barriers is to involve stakeholders. (Board members / vendors / suppliers / employees cross teams / Industry associations / consultants / activists / CUSTOMERS/ Community at large. ). Involvement by stakeholders always make life easy. Even the toughest ones need catalysts. These stakeholders work as catalysts and ensure your success. It becomes a win win.