The future will be powered by sustainable thinking in business, organizations, governments and everyday life. This revolutionary book tackles climate change, sustainability and life success by starting with your mind. It provides proven ‘staged-based’ methods for transforming thinking and behaviour, beginning first with the reader’s own cognitive patterns, then moving to how individuals can motivate other people to change, and finally to how teams and organizations can be motivated to change.
‘Every corner of society is beginning to take on this biggest of all problems - here’s a very useful way of understanding how the process might be accelerated.’ Bill McKibben ‘A valuable guide book for those courageous enough to transform their traditional cognitive biases towards more sustainable behaviour.’ Dr. Steve Schneider, IPCC member and lead author, Stanford University ‘Here, at last, is a book for all of us who have been frustrated by our inability to mobilize significant change around the issue of global warming.’ Denis Hayes, national coordinator of the first Earth Day, president and CEO, Bullitt Foundation ‘This is an empowering, just-in-time, practical guide for mobilized sustainability change agents.’ Bob Willard, author of The Sustainability Advantage and The Next Sustainability Wave
LEARN HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR PERSONAL BEHAVIOUR AND THINKING FOR THE CLIMATE AND SUSTAINABILITY
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HOW WE THINK
HOW WE THINK
THE ICEBERG Like an Iceberg, the Big Important Structure is Hidden Below the Surface. Increased leverage for understanding and change Events (Daily Crises, and Pressures) Common Daily Focus (Above the Surface) (Below the Surface of Daily Events)
Similarly, sustainable thinking cannot be defined as merely the absence of environmentally and socially harmful cognitive patterns or behaviours. Sustainable thinking requires the growth of exceptional states of environmental, social and economic full list of Earthscan titles, visit www.earthscan.co.uk For more information and a awareness, understanding and behaviour. The cognitive reframing process of thinking about Fax: +44 20 7242 1474 E-mail: dan.harding@earthscan.co.uk • Tel: +44 20 7841 1930 • our own thinking and emotions is the key to bringing about the exemplary states of mindfulnessEC1N 8XA Earthscan, Dunstan House, 14a St Cross Street, London, needed to think and act in a sustainable manner. The object is deceptively straightforward: identify unsustainable thoughts and behaviours, decide if they allow you, or the team or organization with whom you are involved, to live up to deeply held aspirations and values, and if not replace them with patterns that allow you to do so (Seligman, 1990; Ellis, 2001). Change mechanisms that best facilitate cognitive reframing include disturbances, emotional inspiration, awareness-building, choice expansion, self-appraisal and helping relationships. These mechanisms will be discussed in more detail in subsequent chapters. After people have decided to engage in sustainable thinking, behavioural change mechanisms become more prominent because they help to reinforce Chapter 6 positive behaviours and eliminate influences that prevent the adoption of climate-positive thought and behavioural patterns. Making a firm commitment to change, getting constant reinforcement, substituting factors that elicit unsustainable behaviours with those that trigger sustainable thinking and activity, redesigning the structures around you and forming mentoring relationships are 67 thus the most helpful mechanisms in the doing and defending stages of change.
HOW WE CHANGE
Change Stages and Most Helpful Change Mechanisms
Disinterest
Deliberation
Design
Doing
Defending
Cognitive and Experiential Change Mechanisms
Disturbances Awareness-building Choice expansion Supportive and helping relationships Emotional inspiration Self/Organizational Reevaluation
Behaviour Change Mechanisms
Patterns (Trends & Recurrences)
Systemic Structures (Policies, Procedures, Technologies) Thinking (Concepts, Theories, Automatic Thoughts) Mental Frames (Core Beliefs, Assumptions) Vision of World and Our Role In It
Commitment Reinforcement Substitution Structural Redesign
Figure 5.2 The iceberg that foster the continual consumption of resources and generation of greenhouse gas pollutants and waste. In short, the crises that humanity faces today are very much of our own making. More than anything, climate change and today’s other pressing
Figure 6.2 Stages of change and most helpful change mechanisms in the 5-D model
Source: adapted from Prochaska et al (1994, p54).
89 For more informationTRANSFORMING YOUR PERSONAL THINKING AND BEHAVIOUR and a full list of Earthscan titles, visit www.earthscan.co.uk E-mail: dan.harding@earthscan.co.uk • Tel: +44 20 7841 1930 • Fax: +44 20 7242 1474 are aware of the need to change yourself. The first and most important step you Earthscan, Dunstan House, 14a St Cross Street, London, EC1N 8XA
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part I: The Imperatives of Change
1) 2) 3) 4) The Gift Making Our Fate Climate and Sustainability Basics Sustainability Thinking Blunders
can take to expand climate-positive sustainable thinking is therefore to alter your own mind frame. This chapter offers a step-wise method you can use to personally progress through the five stages of the sustainable thinking transformation process, much as The Rusty Rexius did. By usingextracts have been taken fromthe transition following abridged the 5-D staged-approach, you can make consciously rather than by chance. All that is needed to allow this process to succeed Chapter 7: Transforming Your Personal Thinking and Behaviour is openness to new concepts, persistence and a willingness to learn.
THE 5-D STAGES OF CHANGE
THE DISINTEREST STAGE OF CHANGE THE DISINTEREST STAGE OF CHANGE
CHANGE MECHANISMS FOR DISINTEREST
• • • • Disturbances Awareness-building Choice expansion Supportive relationships
Part II: The Path Forward
5) How We Think 6) How We Change 7) Transforming Your Personal Thinking and Behaviour 8) The Ethics of Sustainable Thinking 9) Motivating Others To Think and Act Sustainably 10) Motivating Teams and Organizations to Think Sustainably 11) The Power of Sustainable Thinking
This isisthe ‘not ready to change’ stage of the transition to sustainable thinking and This the ‘not ready to change’ stage of the transition to sustainable thinking and where change begins for most people. One of thethe most perplexing aspects of where change begins for most people. One of most perplexing aspects of people who disinterested in altering their thinking and behaviour about people who areare disinterested in alteringtheir thinking and behaviour about the the climate other sustainability issues that they stay stuck here even the climate and and other sustainabilityissues is that they stay stuck here even whenwhen the downsides of their current patterns are obvious other people. In In people downsides of their current patterns are obvious toto other people.fact, fact, people often work hard to stay mired disinterest. often work hard to stay mired in in disinterest. It seems almost too obvious to say, but change is a priority. Because For disinterested people, however, change is not more likely to occur ifita often person seesmaintain disinterest, people who are in this stage often not a help takes effort to it as important. For disinterested people, however, change is need frompriority. to progress to acknowledge problems and reject attempts by others to others They refuse beyond it. point them out. Because it often takes effort to maintain disinterest, people who People stay rooted in disinterest for different reasons, which can be summaare in this stage often need help from others to progress beyond it. Strategies for rized as the four Rs: reluctance, rebellion, resignation and rationalization. Often, a motivating others to change are discussed in Chapter 9. combination of important here is to realize thatispeople stay rooted in disinterest for What’s these defence mechanisms at play.
different reasons, which can be summarized as the four Rs: reluctance, rebellion, MOVING BEYOND DISINTEREST 5 Often, a combination of these defence resignation and rationalization. If mechanisms is at move beyond disinterest you must begin to reframe your you want to play. thinking.People are sometimes reluctant to changethroughout the entire sustainable Cognitive reframing is important due to inertia, fear or, perhaps, thinking transformation process, andIndividuals with this form of disinterest do your comfort with their current condition. involves surfacing and recognizing current allow information about thebehaviourseffects ofthey generate, orconsciously not perspectives and the causes and that global warming other challenging illogical, distorted or maladaptive beliefs and thought patterns, and sustainability issues to permeate their minds. As a result, their disinterest is then usually passive, perspectives that are more helpful. adopting new meaning they don’t have much investment in their existing thinking or behaviour. My 87-year-old father-in-law is not strongly opposed process: Four basic change mechanisms contribute to the cognitive reframing to reducing awareness-building, the energy efficiency of supportive relationships. disturbances,emissions by improving choice expansion andhis 100-year-old house;
Bob Doppelt is director of Resource Innovations and The Climate Leadership Initiative in the Institute for a Sustainable Environment, and courtesy associate professor in the Department of Planning, Public Policy, and Management at the University of Oregon, US. His background and expertise is in systems dynamics and change for sustainability.
Rationalization (Explain away the problem) Projection (Blaming others)
Helping others to reduce emissions is more important than reducing my own. My clients demand that I meet with them personally.
chapter07.qxd 5/29/2008 5:55 PM Page 108 For more information and a full list of Earthscan titles, visit www.earthscan.co.uk activities that help protect the climate, natural environment or social well-being. E-mail: dan.harding@earthscan.co.uk • Tel: +44 20 7841 1930 • Fax: +44 20 7242 1474 If so, you are ready to progress to the next stage of the sustainable thinking process. Earthscan, Dunstan House, 14a St Cross Street, London, EC1N 8XA
If you don’t feel this way, that’s all right as well. Set aside your lists of the risks and benefits of change and pick them back up when you feel ready.
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THE DELIBERATION DELIBERATION STAGE OF CHANGE THE STAGE OF CHANGE
CHANGE MECHANISMS FOR DELIBERATION
• • • • • Continued awareness-building Continued choice expansion Continued supportive relationships Emotional inspiration Self-appraisal
THE DESIGN STAGE HE DESIGN STAGE OF CHANGE T OF CHANGE
CHANGE MECHANISMS FOR DESIGN
• • • Continued self-appraisal Continued helping relationships Commitment
This the might change’ stage of the sustainable thinking transformation This isis the‘I ‘I mightchange’ stage of the sustainable thinking transformation process. It’s likely you now have some awareness, however small, of of the that process. It’s likely you now have some awareness, however small,the risksrisks that global warming, ecological degradation and related social distress poses to global warming, ecological degradation and related social distress poses to your your family, others or yourself, and your possible role in perpetuating the problems. If family, others or yourself, and your possible role in perpetuating the problems. If you are like others, your curiosity may be growing and you may even be excited you are like others, your curiosity may be growing and you may even be excited about this new awareness and the possibility of engaging in sustainable thinking. about this new awarenesshowever, that you are still unclear in sustainable thinking. It’s also probable, and the possibility of engaging about the causes of It’s also change and the other issues of you are stillor what’s involved with doing of climate probable, however, that sustainability unclear about the causes climate change resolve the other issuesmay wonder, for example, if steps that you with your part to and the matters. You of sustainability or what’s involved doing your part to resolve the matters. You may wonder, for example, if steps that you take will actually make a difference. You might become stuck in deliberation if you suffer from one or more of the 4 Rs discussed in the disinterest stage. For instance, you may be hoping that some new technological solution will resolve the problem without you having to do much of anything. Humans have an enormous capacity for wishful thinking. If any of these perspectives dominate your thinking, you run the risk of becoming a chronic deliberator. The use of specific change mechanisms, however, can help you to resolve your concerns and move to the next stage of change.
CHANGE MECHANISMS Despite the potential risks of deliberation, it’s important to spend some time internally debating the pros and cons of becoming a sustainable thinker before moving to the design stage. Your primary task here is to determine if the benefits of adopting climate-positive thought and behaviour outweigh the costs. The change mechanisms that are particularly helpful in making this decision include continued awareness building, choice expansion and supportive relationships.
This is the ‘I will change’ stage of the shift to sustainable thinking. It involves This is the a plan change’your thinking shiftbehaviour. The design stageItis an designing ‘I will to alter stage of the and to sustainable thinking. involves designing a plan to alter your thinking step behaviour. A well designed strategy, important, though often overlooked, and in the change process. Without a can provide designed plan to to overcome obstacles and to monitor and measure carefully you with ways implement climate-positive sustainable thinking and yourbehaviour, you will be ill-equipped for the challenges that lie ahead. A wellprogress. Psychologists have developed an approach for better goal attainment called designed strategy, however, can provide you with ways to overcome obstacles and an ‘implementation intention’. What this means is that planning in advance when, to monitor and measure your progress. where and how you will complete a self-assigned goal produces greater success. The experience of Sue Klobertanz, former head of the City of Portland Studies have found that implementation intentions will help you to stage. towards procurement department, underscores the importance of the design work She goals and, over‘green’ allow the process toproducts at her home andspecific goals for had tested time, cleaning and garden feel automatic. Making often found their performance to intend to especially when compared to of implementing yourself in the sense of ‘Ibe lacking, achieve x’ is a powerful waytheir costs. So when the Portland City Council behaviour, and the city in sustainability, specific changes in your thinking andvoted to engage achieving specific outcomes Klobertanz knew arise. even when difficultiesshe had to craft a careful step-wise plan to transition to sustainable purchasing or risk spotty performance, wasted resources and, possibly, public backlash. CHANGE MECHANISMS Psychologists have developed goals underscores goal attainment called The benefit of setting specific an approach for betterthat the most important an ‘implementation intention’ (Gollwitzer commitment. Making pp186–199). to change mechanism in the design stage is and Brandstatter, 1997, a firm pledge What this means is that and behaviour involves where and a positive vision adopt sustainable thinking planning in advance when,developing how you will complete a self-assigned and treat the climate, natural environment and other of how you want to think goal produces greater success. Studies have found that implementation intentions people now and in the future.will help you to work towards goals and, over time, Other important change mechanisms in the design allow the process to feel automatic. This is especially true for goals that are stage include continued self-appraisal and supportive relationships. especially hard to complete. Making specific goals for yourself in the sense of The design stage does not need to be long. However, it needs to be thorough ‘I intend to achieve x’ is a powerful way of implementing specific changes in your enough to give you a good sense of the initial steps you will take to engage in thinking and behaviour, and achieving specific outcomes even when difficulties sustainable thinking. arise. Keep the plan fluid. Action plans are best used to guide, not to dictate. Focus on the mind and behavioural change process you have learned, not on rigidly Change plan or attaining specific results. following the mechanisms The benefit of setting specific goals underscores that the most important change mechanism in the design stage is commitment (Prochaska et al, 1994). Making a firm pledge to adopt sustainable thinking and behaviour involves developing a
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brown bag lunch talks with colleagues at work can be a wonderful way of nourishing others and yourself.
THE DOING STAGE OF CHANGE THE DOING STAGE OF CHANGE
CHANGE MECHANISMS FOR DOING
• • • • • Commitment Continued helping relationships Continued reinforcement Substitution Structural redesign
THE DEFENDING STAGE OF CHANGE THE DEFENDING STAGE OF CHANGE
CHANGE MECHANISMS FOR DEFENDING
• • • • • Continued Continued Continued Continued Advanced commitment helping relationships reinforcement substitution structural design
This is the ‘I am changing’ stage of the sustainable thinking transformation This is the ‘I am changing’ stage of the sustainable thinking transformation process. It involves implementing the steps outlined in in your action plan. steps outlined your action plan. process. It involves implementing the Thinking sustainably is hard work. Doing, however, onalsoown. EffortAs you begin Thinking sustainably is hard work. It won’t happen is its exciting. must be to see changes occurring, your spirits will As you begin to see changeswill rise. made. Doing, however, is also exciting. lift and your energy level occurring, Keep in mind thatand your energy levelare structured to resist change, as you your spirits will lift because systems will rise. begin toKeep resistance from others as well as technical and logistical barriers are act, in mind that because systems are structured to resist change, as you certain to to act, resistance from yourself well asprocrastinating or backing away you begin emerge. To prevent others as from technical and logistical barriers are needcertain armed with specific strategiesto avoid situations that cause unease, kinds. to be to emerge. Because people tend for responding to obstacles of all to Itprevent yourself from procrastinating or backing away you it is equally important to is always important to see reality clearly. However, need to be armed with know that reality is just respondingor more, a function of our perspectives than it is specific strategies for as much, to obstacles of all kinds. related to tangible circumstances. Our sense of reality usually changes when we alter Themind frame. of a positive orientation our importance This is why it is so important to keep a positive orientation when implementing your Human evolution has taken have calledthousands of years of constant change plan. Researchers place over the way an individual habitually adjustments to localized short-term climatic changes, as their ‘explanatory style’. If explains the causes of events that happen to them environmental hardships, disease, predators and human-caused disruptions, such as wars. People who were you believe that the problems and unpleasant conditions that occur to you are good at worrying about immediate threats survived – those who were not, permanent, all encompassing and due mostly to deep-rooted personal failings, perished. A pessimistic problem-solving approach to life is therefore, in many you are likely to struggleour successfully overcome obstacles. to psyches (Seligman, 1990). ways, hardwired into
It is always important to see reality clearly. However, it is equally important CHANGE MECHANISMS just as much, or more, a function of our perspectives than to know that reality is In order to to tangible circumstances. Our sense of reality the doing stage of the it is related maintain a positive orientation during usually changes when sustainable our mind frame. we alter thinking change process, you need to continue to keep your commitment high. Becauseso important to overcome resistance and obstacles at This is why it is of the need to keep a positive orientation when this point, behaviour change mechanisms such as reinforcement,an individual and implementing your change plan. Researchers have called the way substitution structural redesign become especially important. to them as their ‘explanatory habitually explains the causes of events that happen style’ (see Seligman, 1990; and Peterson and Steen, 2005). If you believe that the problems and unpleasant conditions that occur to you are permanent, all encompassing and due mostly to deep-rooted personal failings, your explanatory
This isisthe ‘I have changed’ stage of the transition to sustainable thinking. After This the ‘I have changed’ stage of the transition to sustainable thinking. Afterabout six months or so of actively pursuing climate-positive activities,activities, your about six months or so of actively pursuing climate-positive your task task shifts to learning how to makemake the new patterns grow, become routine shifts to learning how to the new patterns grow, stick and stick and become routine overlong haul. This is Thiseasy. Resistance from others and numerous obstacles over the the long haul. not is not easy. Resistance from others and numerous obstacles are to continue to pop up as youup as you the path. You must thereforemust are likely likely to continue to pop trek down trek down the path. You continually defend your your new thinking and behaviour they become as therefore continually defend new thinking and behaviour until until they become as automatic as your former climate-damaging thoughts and behaviour once were. automatic as your former climate-damaging thoughts and behaviour once were. One of most important points to remember when implementing One of the the most important points to remember when implementing your your change plan is that action not the same as change (Prochaska et al, 1994). change plan is that action isis notthe sameas change (Prochaska et al, 1994). Just Just because start to make a few short-term changes does mean your core because youyou start to make afew short-term changes does notnot mean your core beliefs, assumptions automatic thoughts have fundamentally changed. It beliefs, assumptions andand automatic thoughts have fundamentallychanged. It takes takes a for time thinking to become embedded in the core of your being. a long timelong new for new thinking to become embedded in the coreof your being. The The defending the of the shift to sustainable thinking may last for years and, defending stage ofstage shift to sustainable thinking may last for years –– and,more than more than likely, a lifetime. likely, a lifetime. Even though I am involved with research and teach climate change and Even though I am involved with research and teach climate change and sustainability courses, for instance, the effort needed to continually fend off sustainability courses, for instance, the effort needed to continually fend off resistance from others and to surmount obstacles often causes me to consider resistance from others and to surmount obstacles often causes me to consider falling back into unsustainable thinking and behaviour patterns (my wife is kind falling back to frequently point this out). The defending stage patterns. is therefore enough into unsustainable thinking and behaviour of change The defending stage of most arduous stage. It the mosthowever, be the most enjoyable part of the the the change is therefore can also, arduous stage. It can also, however, be mostchange process. of the change process. enjoyable part CHANGE MECHANISMS Change mechanisms The same change mechanisms that you used in the doing stage are important when defending your mechanisms that you used in the doingdifferent in this stage is The same change new thinking and behaviour. What’s stage are important the emphasis on long-term commitment and on major structural redesign. when defending your new thinking and behaviour. What’s different in this stage is the emphasis on long-term commitment and on major structural redesign.