Our green business webinar series is proving extremely popular – we’ve had to close the session to all but full paying customers. But one issue that has struck me is that many inquirers are nervous about the technology. Frankly, that’s my job! But it is interesting that this way of working is not better known and trusted in our supposedly knowledge based economy.
It demonstrates once again that culture change is imperative to delivering sustainability in organisations. Virtual working techniques – remote working, teleconferencing, webinars etc – are key tools in the sustainability toolbox, cutting the need for both travel and carbon intensive office space. However, you can invest in all the technology you want, but it’ll be a waste of money if people don’t use it. The reasons are legion: old habits die hard, fear of the new, not wanting to be first, the time investment to learn the ropes.
If you are in senior position in a large organisation, you can overcome some of this reticence by simply insisting on, say, a teleconference rather than bringing staff from around the country to a monthly meeting, or encouraging working from home by instigating hot desking at the office. If you are a lesser mortal, it will take some more subtle techniques, but using the technology yourself and taking the time to hand hold others will help.
Webinars are very low carbon – we have registrants from around the world who can participate from the comfort of their sofa (see pic…). I like to think that, as well as training people in the theory of green business, we’ll be giving them some practical experience too!