Whether you are currently a full-on green business or a traditional business moving toward green business practices it is critical to have employees that are 100% on the green bandwagon or you may find that you will have sabatoge on your hands. If your green restaurant only uses recycled paper napkins for take out orders, but your employees give out 10 napkins for a single sandwich; you will find that both your image and any cost savings from going green will go out the take-out window with those napkins.
On your marketing calendar be sure to schedule information meetings with staff to help them better undersatnd green business, and the important part they play in promoting your green program. Here are a few suggestions to help you develop a green staff that supports and enhances your efforts.
1. Ask employees to suggest ways to reduce waste and to be more energy efficent. Then act on those suggestions when ever possible!
2. Run green employee contests with prizes like a 2 hour lunch and put their picture on your internet marketing sites with recognition for their successful efforts. Nothing (not even money) motivates employees more than recognition! Contests can include best green suggestions, least waste generation, best recycler, etc.
3. Many times when waste reduction is part of your green business plan employees will confuse your efforts with just being cheap. Make sure that you communicate how waste at your company impacts their paychecks. That is easy to understand and a great motivator.
4. Set the example! They will be watching you!
5. Hire people who care, make green lifestyles a part of your hiring criteria and offer incentives to those who car pool or ride bikes to work. Hire local residents and promote from within.
6. As part of your 2010 green marketing plan schedule green contests (monthly or bi-monthly), employee recognition (weekly), and green meetings (quarterly) to review employee efforts, and evaluate your employment applications and job announcements to best communicate your desire to have green-activists as employees.
Okay, next post will deal with your business “face”. What do customers get as a first impression of your business, is it green or just green washed?
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