Greener habits for sustained personal energy.
We will soon to be discussing sustainability on a popular podcast, so we thought we’d share what the term ‘sustainability’ means to us. It may be surprising to learn that we don’t view sustainability solely from a planet perspective – we also explore how to sustain individual effectiveness, professionally and personally.
Hybrid working is now standard terminology, but what about ‘hybrid sustainability’? The type of sustainability where we make efforts to develop a ‘greener’ approach to work, alongside adopting sustainable habits that ensure our personal performance remains optimised and productive. Some suggestions to help you get started:
1. Sustainable Commuting
One or two small shifts to reduce our footprint (remember marginal gains?). We could choose one greener commute per week (a longer walk, cycle, or use of public transport). At work, benefits might include secure bike storage or car-sharing perks.
Spring is a great time of year to pick up new habits like this, as we enjoy the lighter, warmer days.
2. Personal Sustainability at Work
Small alterations to our working day add up to ‘green wins’ surprisingly quickly. Defaulting to 25-minute or 50-minute meetings reduces digital fatigue and allows for an energising break away from screens between meetings. Reducing screen brightness saves energy and sustains productive focus. Motion sensor lights in public areas reduce energy consumption. We can also develop activity sensors ourselves:
- In a meeting, if energy is dropping, ask a few questions
- Before speaking, what outcome do we want?
- If challenged respectfully, engage in curiosity rather than justification
- In a meeting that’s overrunning, summarise and reset priorities
- After a meeting, take a 60-second reflection
- When opening a device, review our top 3 priorities
- Before sending a message, check for clarity over detail
- After finishing a call, capture one learning
These all save energy – both environmentally and personally.
3. Personal Sustainability: Protect Your Energy
A sustainable leader is a more effective leader, so how do we protect our energy? Try the 90 – 15 rhythm: work deeply for 90-minutes, then recover for 10 – 15 minutes with movement, hydration, or fresh air; Fiercely protect two ‘no email’ windows every day, to reduce distractions and maintain productivity and energy; Match our work to our energy levels – if we’re firing on all cylinders, this is the best time for strategic thinking. If we need some inspiration, meetings and collaboration fit well here. Today’s flexible workplace is designed to allow us each to play to our strengths.
4. Lead Sustainable Culture Change via Small Signals
Leaders shape culture through behaviour, not big announcements (we discussed ‘casting a shadow’ in an earlier virtual coach, outlining awareness of the behaviours that others see and copy). What type of culture are you sustaining through your behaviours? For example, walking meetings and 1:1s rather than holding them in a cramped meeting space promote energy and creative thinking. Opening meetings with a wellbeing observation, check-in, or celebration normalises looking after our personal energy. Team members follow what they see – not what they’re told.
Sustainability starts small. One environmental habit plus one personal‑energy habit each week can create meaningful, visible leadership. These micro‑changes build resilience, clarity, and a more sustainable work culture without the need for a formal mandate. Let us know how you get on! You’re In Cool Company…
