Should we be safe or intelligent?
I work with many amazing, knowledgeable and giving colleagues. Some are fully behind the greener work we implement, some don’t yet get it, and some get it but really like to tease and banter and play devil’s advocate about the whys and hows.
At a large meeting, one of my colleagues started talking about how important it is to print out the agenda for all attendees. He likes taking notes on the agenda, so from his perspective it is better to print out the agenda. He said the cost is less for the sheets of paper than the cost of not giving an agenda to a staff on which they could maybe take valuable hand written notes.
I stopped him and said that the word “maybe” makes the case, here. He is catering to the lowest common denominator so we are “safe” for a “maybe” possibility. I suggested the more intelligent approach with flexibility for the attendees would be to e-mail the agenda to them all the day prior and request they print it out for themselves if they want it during the meeting. As a bonus, they then get to see the agenda and get their minds in the game in advance of the meeting.
He said there’s nothing wrong in being safe.
I said there’s nothing wrong in being intelligent.
He said, “touche”.
As I thought about this, later, I realized the best answer is both “safe” and “intelligent”. I think the way to get there is to redefine “safe” a bit so that we are not just doing the work for everyone to make sure it’s done properly, but clearly informing them of their choices and then helping them to take responsibility.
In the case of the agenda, we send it out electronically, tell people to print it if they need it and then either have 2-3 (only 2-3) spare copies for people who forgot or we project the agenda periodically up on the screen to help people maintain their place and presence. It is only over time that people will change their habits, and we must accommodate that transition.
“Safe and intelligent” – another possible definition of sustainable.
Be greener,
Jodi
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