Solving Climate Crisis Problems based on the person you are!

 

Mary Annaïse Heglar has written in Wired (April 1, 2020), “What can I do?” Well, now that you understand that the question is complicated (regarding the climate), the answer actually emerges as quite simple: Do what you're good at. And do your best.”

 

I like Heglar’s response. She says get started! Do your best! Now let’s aim that inspiration by walking around the climate crisis and see where you can grab a handle and latch on. By the way, I also like Heglar’s advice without specifics. Therefore it’s up to you. You know what’s worth doing jump in, do your best! Understand your career is personal and it should be. No one else can tell you when, where or how to make your mark. No one knows as well as you what makes you tick and where your motivation comes from. I assume you read this blog because you’re angry about the climate crisis, or you’re scared of what it’s doing to you and your family. That’s the fire for getting into the fray.

 

Like many sizing up the climate crisis you might think climate is “not something I work on or trained for.” Try again. Think, what can you do with your skills to contribute to the climate crisis? What can you bring to this fight from your perspective? Who is doing something you admire and would like to do? Is there something you can’t do, but could support?

 

I want to help you match who you are with what you want to accomplish so you are more effective with what you do. I know from vocational psychology research that people who are most satisfied with their work are sharing that work with people they like. If you like the people around you, you probably like your career! When you run into people you like having success in climate work, pay attention! This is a major indicator of work for you. The reason I am talking about satisfaction is, I want to see you succeed, I need to have you succeed! The more satisfied, the more likely you will stick with the work and punch through to success. This comes from the work of John Holland, a vocational psychology theorist and researcher who made the matching process his life’s work.

 

Explaining this works best if we walk around the different perspectives. There are six types of work environments in Holland’s system and six types of people or personalities that are beneficial to match up. You may be able to pick three you most fit just from a brief description.

 

Artistic – Much like it sounds. People being creative with anything from music, dance, painting, video, digital media, writing you name it. These folks like freedom to work their own way and their own hours. If you are one of these folks you may already have ideas for tackling the climate crisis using your tools. Great! Art can bring about understanding of climate issues and project future outcomes we don’t otherwise consider.

 

Conventional – This isn’t a title you find in most personality schemes. Here we find people who are all about facts and specifics and keeping track of progress. You have data to herd into the proper format and to make the most sense of things. There are rules to follow to get results. Artistic and Conventional are opposites. If we don’t pay attention to the bottomline we might go off track in the possible options for future climate solutions.

 

Realistic – We have people who are hands on and produce a product and at the end of the day like to see what they did with concrete results! Outcomes are often well specified from the beginning and when results are obtained there is no doubt of success! Having a clear idea of built structures or machinery can make abstract design into climate reality.

 

Social – If you fit this category you probably already know. These are the compassionate who see that people understand and that everyone is taken into account and has a place. Results are about how you feel at the end of the day and there are seldom physical results you can point to. Another opposite pair, this time with Realistic. When it comes to being socially inclusive to have the largest impact in climate outcomes, these are the folks we need to lean on.

 

Investigative – The quest to find out, to think about things and come at theory through hard won evidence.  Actually seeing a product is interesting, but more likely something turned over to the Realistic folks. The tasks of the investigative is mostly intellectual. Rarely are they interested in costs or financial rewards. Researchers develop better understanding of the problems and point the way to new approaches to solving problems while avoiding unintended consequences.

 

Entrepreneurial – Is the opposite of Investigative, so these are the ones to take funding and financial risks involved in business. They are persuaders and planners and turn research into business plans. While a plan might seem ideal, if it doesn’t show a benefit to enough people it won’t stand a chance, and these leaders and influencers are necessary to forge the way to put funding to work on the projects we need.

 

I know, wouldn’t it be easier just to start a job and not worry if about investigating the people and the field? The trouble with the “random walk” approach, is the jobs don’t turn out to be satisfying about 60% of the time. That still seems to be what most people do, or even more likely, they depend on the contacts they already have to get them connected with a possible job. I’ll talk about developing solid contacts later in this series, not depending on a friend or relative who can “get” you a job. They also don’t turn out to produce the outcomes desired. In my selfish desire to see climate solutions, I want to see maximum success getting climate problems solved, so pay attention to yourself and land in one of the destinations where you can do some real good!