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Does how we talk about carbon impact sustainability efforts? William McDonough, a pioneer in sustainability, suggests reframing how we discuss carbon. Instead of labeling it as "bad," he proposes viewing it as a natural element essential for life, emphasizing the need to manage its cycle effectively. This perspective aligns with the "meaningful language" principle that Ed Morrison and Doug Smith of Strategic Doing Networks advocate. They believe that the words we use shape our actions and collaborations. McDonough argues that by shifting our language to focus on capturing and utilizing carbon, we can foster entrepreneurial ecosystems that develop innovative solutions for removing it from the atmosphere. Jack Ricchiuto, a renowned author and facilitator, echoes this sentiment, stating that we make the seemingly impossible possible when we direct our conversations toward opportunities. These experts collectively suggest that by adopting meaningful language and envisioning possibilities for a shared future, we can accelerate progress toward our sustainability goals through collective action and shared value creation. Accelery, Inc. #sustainablibilty #wickedproblems #meaningfullanguage
Ren Huffman
6mo
All too often we frame challenges in negative terms. We see deficiencies and excesses and make declarations. Jack Ricchiuto has taught me we might be better served with a question such as, “Why is this system out of balance?” Then, pause and listen. We allow for more voices and more ideas. Working with communities that are often not a part of the conversation has taught me to neutralize language. We exclude so many possibilities by looking to the same people or communities repeatedly. In addition to reframing by adopting meaningful language, could making conversations more accessible and inclusive accelerate progress towards the SDGs? If the answer is yes, then how might we begin?
Amen to that!
Strategic Business & Organisational Development | Cybersecurity Transformation | Business Secure by Design | Cybersecurity Culture Change, Communication & Learning | Certified Coach (ICI)
6moMeaningful language. 💕 That words shape our perception and understanding of the world is a well known fact. If it weren’t true we would have no communication problems or interpersonal misunderstandings in physical meetings when we’re talking eye to eye. Unless we blaim misunderstandings on personal traits and individual motivations. Which we often do. Because we don’t know how to handle or understand complexity. In a way this creates a double problem when it comes to coordinating actions and collaborating effectively. Because we believe our communication process to come up with an action plan was objective, leading to a plan that is objective. If everyone is just motivated and have the right mindset our plan will succeed. It will fix that complicated problem carbon emissions have showed out to be. Only our communication weren’t objective. And the plan we created to coordinate our actions was based on the assumption that the problem was complicated, not complex. I believe we need to learn how to relate to individual subjectivity and bias when forming our common truths. Without designed communication processes removing mush (as Bushe would call it) we won’t get any inter-subjectivity or resemblance of common objectivity.