Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues are now at the heart of corporate concerns. Strengthening your influence with the board of directors or management in this area is essential for embedding the company in a sustainable approach. Discover in four key steps how you can achieve this.
In the field of renewable energy, particularly wind energy, obtaining management’s support for ESG initiatives is crucial. Here are four key steps to strengthen your influence with the board of directors or management.
Build Trust with Honesty
To influence effectively, start by establishing a solid foundation of trust. Avoid the temptation to overstate potential risks to provoke a quick response. Transparency is essential; as Megan Maltenfort, Vice President of ESG at Cardinal Health, notes, it is crucial to show that ESG initiatives align with the company’s business interests.
Focus your message on actual and relevant risks. Executives are often very busy with multiple priorities. Simplify the information and be clear about what you are asking and why.
Embrace Feedback Open-Mindedly
As an internal expert in sustainability, trust your expertise but remain humble. Board members and executives often have valuable perspectives. Be open to their questions and suggestions. In doing so, you can turn monologues into constructive dialogues.
Megan Maltenfort adopts this approach at Cardinal Health, where she remains receptive to corrections and questions while being honest about the areas where she does not have all the answers.
Educate and Lay the Groundwork
Rather than immediately requesting a major investment, start with an educational phase. Take the time to explain why ESG initiatives are important. This allows management to become champions of sustainability, prepared to support projects when the time comes.
Make concrete connections between ESG initiatives and the company’s broader goals. For instance, by thanking a vice president for assisting in establishing an environmental reporting system, you demonstrate how this supports regulatory requirements and business objectives.
Make Reasonable and Well-Founded Requests
When you are ready to make a request, ensure that it is realistic and well-prepared. At Cardinal Health, a two-step process verifies requests before presenting them at the highest level. This ensures that each request aligns with the company’s priorities and is framed as a service act towards broader business objectives.
Position each request as a way to facilitate or support these organizational priorities, whether it is improving customer service, remaining compliant with regulations, or addressing the expectations of investors and other stakeholders.
List: How to Strengthen Your ESG Influence with the Board of Directors or Management in 4 Steps
| Step | Key Action |
| Build Trust | Transparency and clear communication |
| Embrace Feedback | Constructive dialogue and openness |
| Educate the Ground | Ongoing education and concrete links |
| Make Reasonable Requests | Pre-verification and strategic alignment |
By following these four steps, you will not only strengthen your influence with management and the board of directors but also facilitate the integration of ESG practices into your company’s overall strategies.
