A good time to get to the bottom of this. We asked our colleague Veronika, who is responsible for this topic in our company.
She told us why sustainability is such an important topic for IK, what it has to do with employee engagement and how the topic can become more relevant.
- Dear Veronika, why is sustainability an important topic for IK?Sustainability is playing an increasingly important strategic role for companies. This means change. Not superficially, but profoundly – at the level of the business model, but also in the way we think and act. Companies often have very different attitudes and opinions on the subject of sustainability, and employees and management tell different stories about it. And this is where internal communication comes into play: it has the tools to create a common understanding of the topic, build knowledge and open up spaces for internal discussion. It can actively involve and inspire people to implement sustainability strategies.
- Please explain what sustainability has to do with employee engagement?For a change towards more sustainability to succeed, a critical number of employees are needed who are behind it and are committed to it. Employee engagement means nothing less: employees who feel connected to the company and who are willing to dedicate their time and energy to the company’s goals. It is therefore particularly important to involve employees from the outset, especially when it comes to emotionally charged topics such as sustainability. Involvement is achieved through active participation, the joint development of ideas and learning from successes and failures in an environment of trust. This is the only way to achieve sustainable change.
- Where do I start if I want to make the topic more relevant from now on? Do you have a tip?It is important to put sustainability communication on a strategic footing. To do this, it is helpful to be clear about two questions: “What goals has my company set itself in the area of sustainability?” and “How can internal communication contribute to achieving them?”. Admittedly, the second question is not an easy one and the answer varies from company to company. Different measures are suitable depending on how experienced the organization is with change and where it currently stands. However, one central aspect is clear: No matter what we choose, change needs the commitment of management to be successful.
Do you have any questions? You can reach Veronika directly here.