Towards 2030 Sustainable Development Goals

In 2020 we released some truly brilliant workshops to support the Global Goals. Through Covid innovation and sustainability has emerged strongly across the world.

For some a slower pace led to rapid innovation and was a catalyst for innovation in sustainable product and system development. For others their aspirations fell short due to other pressing priorities in service delivery or work environment.

Make 2022 the year to Lead the Change you wish to see in the world.

The Global Goals are such an accessible anchor to build on for positive culture development and are a rich vehicle to enable teams and individuals to make a difference.

“ Never be seduced into believing it isn’t the role of business to tackle the big issues, because it absolutely is”

Anita Roddick

Hence as you kick into the New Year and are back at work, it may be the perfect time to make the team and individual commitments to bringing the Sustainable Development Goals to life. If it is climate change – it might be in stepping up your recycling at work, always using eco-bags when shopping, buying local produce without plastic packaging, walking more and using your car less.

Australia currently ranks 26th globally in terms of its performance and progress in meeting these goals. According to the Sustainable Development Goal index we rank high on clean water, health and education, yet our commitment to climate action, ocean health and forming partnerships to address these goals falls short.

Before WunderTraining nearly ten years ago – Jane worked at The Body Shop with a triple bottom line approach People- Profits ‘and Planet‘. It was such a rich and real part of our culture, and each component was equally important – it made work for our teams and staff, so much more than retail and KPI’s.

We truly believed we were a powerful force for good and so many of my best memories and achievements had nothing to do with retail sales. The habits and ethos we supported at work transferred to our home lives, and our community gave back was such a rewarding part of work. It taught us about inclusivity and empathy, and for some, it challenged biases and beliefs they didn’t know they had. Some of the best personal and professional development came from the community give back experiences.

One of my favourite quotes from the back of our uniforms was:

“If you think you are too small to make a difference you have never been to bed with a mosquito”

One team member at the age of 15 was responsible for bringing recycling practices to Westfields. I presented wellbeing sessions to varied groups – the Women’s Prison, Magill Youth Detention Centre and to at-risk youth, and loved supporting The Big Issue to start the Adelaide Street Soccer program for those homeless and at risk. Teams and individuals decided where they wanted to contribute in alignment with the company ethos and values- some tree planted, some supported at hospices… all of which support components of the Global Goals we have today.

I believe a positive, purpose-driven and proactive workplace culture can support people to be the authentic ‘best versions’ of themself at work- enriching culture and in building ethical, compassionate and collectively connected teams, something so many businesses want more of. And in my experience, the flow on to business success is unquestionable.

There is buckets of research to support the importance of connecting to purpose. Meaning is one of the five components in the PERMA Positive Psychology framework as a path to flourishing. We are at our best when we dedicate our time to something greater than ourselves. This could be through our work, family, community work, a cause or a charity, a professional or creative commitment.

The 17 Global Goals are a gift and there is an opportunity for all workplaces to make a difference- collectively and as individually.

For insight into the global goals;

What’s happening in Australia

Upload what your organisation is doing here:

If you’d like support to unpack the goals, align with your organisational values and build some team and personal strategies at a team, leadership or conference event- we would love to assist with an interactive, engaging and empowering workshop.  We have a brilliant workshop here: Business Opportunities and the SDG’s

I think we all have some work to do!

Be the change you wish to see in the world.

Mahatma Gandhi

If you enjoyed this article.  Please review the Wundertraining workshops on  ‘Leadership‘ and  ‘Business Opportunities and the SDG’s’