Sustainability consulting aims to identify areas of your business or lifestyle where you have room to become more environmentally conscious. The goals of sustainability consulting differ from client to client. However, the underlying purpose is always to gain a better understanding of your environmental footprint and create a clear path to reducing that impact.
Who Sustainability Consulting Is Right For
The short answer is sustainability consulting is right for everyone—if your coach tailors sessions to your unique goals and interests. Sustainability coaching is a great option if you want to:
✨ Incorporate environmentally friendly practices at home
✨ Establish sustainable standards in your business
✨ Build existing habits
Here’s how various types of clients can benefit from sustainability consulting:
Individuals
Whether you’re an experienced environmental advocate or just getting starting—one-on-one sustainability consulting can highlight your strengths and opportunities for growth. Clients can work with a sustainability coach to identify individualized goals and then develop the keystone habits to help them get there.
Startups
Developing environmentally friendly practices and marketing your business as a genuinely sustainable organization can both save money and boost returns—especially in today’s competitive market. Businesses that are just getting started have a unique opportunity to create sustainable practices from the ground up. Working with a sustainability coach or consultant can help your business incorporate best practices, build a positive corporate culture, and nurture client trust from day one.
Existing Businesses
If you want to incorporate more sustainable practices into an established business—like becoming a Certified B Corporation—it’s not too late! Many business owners are intimidated by the prospect of adding more processes to their day-to-day. However, an experienced sustainability coach can identify areas where small changes can have the most impact.
What Happens During Sustainability Consulting?
In general, sustainability consulting involves a combination of guided home or business audits, one-on-one consulting sessions, and follow-up exercises. Depending on the coach, sessions may be in-home or video-based and typically include a deep-dive into a client’s current habits, needs, and timeline. A great consultant will also help you identify everything from short-term plans to big, hairy, audacious goals—and create a plan to help you execute and maximize your chances of success.
While there are a number of ways to be more sustainable on your own, a sustainability coach or consultant can provide helpful feedback and keep you on track.
How to Choose a Sustainability Consultant
Choosing the right sustainability consultant depends largely on your goals and your budget. Primarily, though, look for a coach who takes steps to understand your needs and who will tailor sustainable practices that work for you.
When choosing a sustainability consultant, your top pick should be:
A Good Listener
An effective sustainability consultant will dedicate time and energy to listening to—and understanding—your unique needs and goals. The best coaches will take the time to learn about where you are in your sustainability journey and focus their energy on creating a plan that jives with that season of your life.
Willing To Talk One-on-One
Group coaching has its place and can be an amazing opportunity to learn from others. However, these sessions aren’t ideal if you want the undivided attention of your coach.
Once you decide to invest in a sustainability coach, choose one who offers one-on-one sessions to help maximize your time and resources.
Experienced
Finding a sustainability coach can be overwhelming but one of the easiest ways to narrow your search is to focus on consultants with extensive experience in environmental science and sustainable practices.
Solution-Oriented
One of the most important outcomes of individual or business coaching is an actionable plan that will guide you along your path to sustainability. Exceptional sustainability coaches focus on helping clients meet their unique environmental goals—one step at a time.
Committed To Offering Tailored Feedback
One-size-fits-all sustainability coaching services have their place and—depending on your goals—may be a great place to start. However, individuals and businesses that want tailored sustainable habits to stick will benefit most from tailored coaching sessions and client-specific feedback.
If you’re interested in sustainability coaching but aren’t sure it’s right for you or your business, contact us for a free consultation—I’d love to chat ✨