An ESG professional’s 2022 New Year’s intentions

In 2022, rather than setting New Year’s resolutions, I’m focusing on intentions. While the vast majority of people fail to achieve resolutions, I personally love the idea of using the beginning of the calendar year as an opportunity to refresh and improve. 

According to Deepak Chopra: “Intention is the starting point of every dream. It is the creative power that fulfills all of our needs, whether for money, relationships, spiritual awakening, or love. Everything that happens in the universe begins with intention.”

We can think of intention as a guiding principle for how we want to be, live and show up in the world — whether at work, in relationships, during your meditation, or in any area of your life, says Melissa Eisler. I’d add that when we visualize what we want, we are better able to recognize the opportunities surrounding us that can help us achieve it. 

Here are my intentions for 2022:

1. Be curious, not judgmental.

Yes, I’m stealing this one from Ted Lasso — who in turn misattributed it to Walt Whitman. In today’s emotionally-charged world marked by information overload, it’s easy to jump to conclusions that lead us to unproductive conflict. This challenge is amplified in today’s remote-first world where many of us miscommunicate with digital tools such as Slack, Zoom and even good, old-fashioned email. Conflict and misunderstandings occur daily in the world of ESG and climate communication in particular. Don’t get mad — get curious. 

In 2022, I will slow down, wonder awhile, listen, and allow myself to not know. And in so doing, I will seek to understand rather than assume. 

2. Talk less, smile more.

Okay, this one is from the play Hamilton when Aaron Burr advises the young and brash Alexander Hamilton. I am a talker. Always have been. When I get nervous, I talk. When I get excited, I talk. When I get interested, I talk. In many situations, this serves me well — but it also gets me into trouble. 

Last year, I began working with a leadership coach, Angela Chang, who challenged me to start tallying all of the times I spoke versus when others spoke during meetings. By doing this exercise, I learned two things: first, that people talk a lot more than they need to and, second, that when I talk less and smile and listen more others more proactively seek out my perspective. 

In 2022, I will continue to work on my active listening skills to become a more effective communicator. 

3. Kill with kindness  

One of the most troubling side effects of the ongoing pandemic has been people becoming a lot meaner. According to TIME, “The combination of a contagious, life-threatening disease and a series of unprecedented, life-altering changes in the rules of human engagement have left people anxious, confused and, especially if they do not believe the restrictions were necessary, deeply resentful.”

In my own recent adventures, I’ve noticed many people becoming meaner and more passive aggressive than well-adjusted adults ought to be. When faced with nastiness, it’s easy to fall into the trap of  “paying it backward” by responding in kind (pun intended). But the only way we will foster empathy at scale is by channeling that negative energy into something positive.

In 2022, if and when I face meanness personally or professionally, I will choose to take the high road and respond only with kindness.

4. Ask for help. 

We all get by with a little help from our friends, as the Beatles affirmed. And this is doubly true in today’s complex and interdependent world. Even the most accomplished heart surgeon is reliant on her medical staff to operate successfully. In my own role, I am reliant on many others on my team to meet my own goals. While for the longest time I believed it was better to work alone and do things my way — I have learned that asking for help is a strength. The more I learn from others, the better I will become personally and professionally. 

Succeeding in an ESG role without knowing how to ask for help is difficult, if not impossible. Nobody has all of the experience, education, connections, knowledge and skills to single-handedly solve complex ESG problems. We are reliant on dozens, if not hundreds of others working in various capacities to accomplish ESG goals. 

In 2022, I will ask for help whenever necessary — and help others when my help is needed.

What are your 2022 New Year’s intentions? Let me know in the comments!