At last week’s IEMA Green Jujitsu session, I asked the audience how many had a network of green champions. A forest of hands went up. I then asked who had a network of happy green champions. Most of the hands fell again.

Appointing Green Champions is one of those things people do because everybody else does it, but I have rarely seen a green champions network that works. It’s a bit of a cop out, if you think about it – we’ll ask people to volunteer for a worthy but poorly defined cause, give them no tools or levers to help them, and grumble when the network withers on the vine.

Here’s some ideas that might help you:

• Instead of recruiting self-selecting volunteers, target specific job roles or people of influence and make them your champions;
• If you do recruit volunteers, use them as an advisory board to generate ideas to implement sustainability across the organisation, to comment on messaging/campaigns and/or to identify/feature in case studies;
• Train volunteers in techniques such as green jujitsu to avoid anybody preaching at their colleagues;
• Give recognition to individuals who do go above and beyond the call of duty;
• Thank everybody for their contribution, whether they do much or not.

But never, ever give volunteers responsibilities – that’s unfair, going on unethical.