How Progressive Professionals Can Promote a Forward-Thinking Workplace - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / How Progressive Professionals Can Promote a Forward-Thinking Workplace - Introvert Whisperer How Progressive Professionals Can Promote a Forward-Thinking Workplace You see the bigger picture at work, keep a focus on your organization’s path into the future, and are open to just about any possibility. Along with being an introvert, you are a forward thinker. But what happens when a forward-thinking professional works for a company that doesn’t have the same type of culture? You may get frustrated, exhausted, and even question if getting a new job could solve your workplace problems.     Forward-thinking workplaces have one thing in common: they recognize and even celebrate their employees as a way of showing how they value their staff members. This is usually part of their company culture and can go a long way in keeping staff engaged and happy at work. Many companies have embraced a progressive work environment to flip the script on how staff perceive their job, managers, and coworkers.   If you’re looking for ways to change your company culture, you’ve come to the right place. Here are three strategies you can use to start a positive cultural revolution in your workplace.   Suggest Sustainability Activities like recycling, wildlife protection, and waste reduction are the most common sustainability practices. Creating a sustainable business encompasses these activities but goes a bit further. Sustainability in the workplace requires a broader consciousness about conservation, protection, and environmental stewardship.     Large corporations like Nike and Walmart have embraced sustainability initiatives that improve the environment and save money. Nike tracked the sustainability metrics of their suppliers. This gave them essential data that helped revise their business practices only to choose suppliers that have proven sustainability practices. Wal-Mart looked at metrics like water use, agricultural yields, and gas emissions and found areas for improvement. The changes they implemented reduced foot costs by $3.5 billion.     You’ll probably need to start on a much smaller scale than these examples. The good news for you is that, as an introvert, you’ve probably already observed and worked through a few ways your workplace can go green. If your employer doesn’t participate in simple sustainability practices like recycling, start there. Speak to your manager or human resources to offer ideas of how the company can embrace sustainability practices and save a little money in the process. Here are a few recycling at work ideas you can use to get started:   Recycle cardboard Refurbish old computers Switch to recycled paper Refill or recycle printer cartridges Switch to real mugs in the breakroom Set up recycling stations   Use rechargeable batteries Raise Awareness for Noble Causes Progressive company cultures often focus on social justice issues that are important to the business and their employees. For some companies, this might mean engaging in dialogue about topics both inside and outside of working hours as well as planning events that align with the mission of the issues they support. If you’re trying to begin these conversations, be sure that you know who to speak to and how to strike up the conversation.     Find a cause that aligns with the company culture or events at the workplace. For example, if a coworker was recently diagnosed with cancer, consider creating a team to walk in a local American Cancer Society Event. You might also find local causes such as homelessness or child abuse in your community. If you’re looking for a national organization, consider the Take Back the Night Foundation, which helps to raise awareness about all forms of sexual and domestic violence.     Regardless of the cause you choose, find a few coworkers who share your passion for raising awareness before you approach administration. Create a thoughtful plan that includes possible fundraising activities and a list of who will be in charge of events. Present both positive and negative effects for the company, such as increased morale and potential decreased productivity. Once you get the go-ahead from administration, get creative with ways to embed social awareness in your company culture.   Pitch New Work Schedule Options Many introverts long for the ability to work in the quiet of their own home, at least a few days a week. Some employers have embraced progressive work schedules, which can include anything from a four-day workweek to allowing employees to work from home. Some employers might frown at the notion of not having direct access to staff by just walking past a cubicle. Another concern that the company may have includes unforeseen costs in adopting new technologies to communicate with staff when they’re not on site.     If you and your coworkers are looking for ways to suggest a work change that will be taken seriously, the first step is to just talk about what you want. Bring up ideas like telecommuting, part-time work, or a shorter workweek during a staff meeting to see how everyone reacts.     Make sure you prepare your “elevator pitch,” which is a quick and concise speech about how your proposal can benefit both employees and the company. Bring up benefits such as reducing the risk of burnout at work, increasing staff creativity, and even lowering costs for the company if workspaces could be downsized. Once you’ve opened up the dialogue, give it some time before you bring up the topic again to allow leadership plenty of time and space to think about the idea before making a decision.     You should expect a little resistance from higher-ups at first. Stay positive and use language that shows you’re willing to work through the process with them. You can say statements like, “I can see lots of ways this can benefit the company. “ Make sure to ask questions so that you understand their concerns too. Try starting with “What concerns do you have from a global point of view about these work schedule changes?” Statements and questions like these will help keep the dialogue flowing from all parties involved.   Moving Your Company Culture Forward When you strike up these conversations and initiatives at work, some people may be surprised that you took on such a big problem. However, we know that introverts can be team-building superstars in the workplace and can get everyone working on a shared vision for the future. Use these strategies to get your company moving towards a forward-thinking culture to keep the organization growing and staff happy with their work environment. Image Source: Unsplash By Sam Bowman Sam Bowman  is a freelance writer and introvert who enjoys getting to utilize the internet for the community without actually having to leave his house. In his spare time, he likes running, reading, and combining the two in a run to his local bookstore. Go to top Power-Influence-Office Politics: it comes down to your Strategic Relationships and understanding of how you build each one of these elements. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that outlines all of this and meaningful actions you can take today!   Start watching now by clicking here! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer