| You know the expression that begins, "I've got half a | | | | In our debrief after two sessions with them, we |
| mind to...?" Well, guess what? Most of us really are | | | | realized we had defaulted to a very left-brain |
| using only half our mind when tackling the tough | | | | focused, detailed, and exhausting mode. Luckily, |
| challenges of greening our business. That's the | | | | these were engineers, so they weren't fazed by the |
| equivalent of trying to go three rounds with | | | | technical language and the linear, logical approach. |
| Mohammad Ali with one hand tied behind your back! | | | | Certainly, we all made plenty of discoveries and had a |
| Yes, the focus of the green movement is almost | | | | satisfying number of "a-ha" moments. |
| exclusively on a linear, left-brain, problem-solving | | | | Still, we came away wondering what was left |
| approach. Give things up, use less, eat your kale. | | | | undiscovered. Next time we will structure the |
| While this has its place, it isn't very inspiring. It is far | | | | sessions very differently, to engage both left and |
| more rewarding to engage our whole mind - including | | | | right brains. Why can this help? Remember, our old |
| the often overlooked right brain. | | | | friend Einstein said that imagination is more important |
| I am more convinced than ever of the power of | | | | than knowledge. We can get so dazzled by the facts |
| creative expression to catalyze new thinking. Brain | | | | and figures, by the data and the right-wrong mindset, |
| science confirms this: we have two hemispheres, | | | | that we can miss all the nuance. |
| right and left. By holding only to the rational, linear, | | | | Here are seven tips to making your next |
| and analytical left brain, we treat the right brain as a | | | | collaborative session more fun and productive. How |
| poor step-child. We need to get over thinking of | | | | can you open to new possibilities by honoring the gift |
| right-brain pursuits like art, photography, film, poetry, | | | | of intuition this week? |
| music, and storytelling as mere "entertainment." | | | | 1. No right or wrong. Start your session by reminding |
| As Albert Einstein observed: | | | | yourself and everyone that you are creating |
| The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational | | | | something new. You are not keeping score. |
| mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society | | | | 2. Be a beginner. Even if it's something you do on a |
| that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift. | | | | regular basis, think back to when you were brand |
| Relying only on the seen and rational, to the exclusion | | | | new. How might a beginner approach the situation? |
| of engaged intuitive leaps, is one reason why more | | | | What would a novice ask? |
| entrepreneurs aren't already seeing the green in their | | | | 3. Tell a story. Our brains love analogies. A good |
| own business. It also makes working sessions seem | | | | story can be an economical - and inspiring - way to |
| long, tedious, and - dare I say - boring. Since change | | | | convey complex ideas and meaning. |
| is often challenging, using half our mind makes things | | | | 4. Lighten up. Who says meetings have to be dull and |
| way harder than they need to be! | | | | serious? Laughter and play are inherently creative. |
| I was reminded of this recently, working with a | | | | 5. A picture is worth 1,000 words. Use images to help |
| successful energy-efficiency consultancy to | | | | people brainstorm and make creative leaps. Pictures |
| benchmark their sustainability practices. An early | | | | engage our right brain and help open us to greater |
| leader in the green building movement, they aspire to | | | | possibility in the moment. |
| be a world-class company. It's important to them to | | | | 6. Roll up your sleeves. Rather than structuring a |
| lead by example, and they want to focus their | | | | meeting with an expert up front giving everyone the |
| energies to do even better as they grow. | | | | Truth, get everyone around the table engaged. Invite |
| Our benchmark tool helped them to go deeper and | | | | them to get to work, rather than sit passively |
| look at operations, community engagement, and | | | | waiting for the answers. |
| employee policies, as well as the more obvious | | | | 7. Questions rather than answers. Encourage people |
| impacts from energy use, transportation, and waste | | | | to express their ideas only as questions and see |
| and recycling. | | | | what happens. Misunderstandings are treasure! |