018: Enough with the People Pleasing Already: It’s Time to Make Someone Uncomfortable

There are things you think people could be doing better: more recycling, better shopping choices, more renewables, different policies. But, you don’t want to bring it up. Sorry, but if you want change, you’re going to make someone uncomfortable.   Green Team Academy Podcast with Joan Gregerson Episode 18   Time-stamped notes: [1:00] I was brought up to be a people-pleaser. [1:30] Being polite has serious consequences. [1:45] Talking with my dad and hearing Jimmy Carter, I thought working in energy efficiency was enough. [2:15] There was this feeling that you couldn’t really talk about the big issues. [3:15] This came up with people I’ve interviewed: not wanting to be pushy, wanting to stay under the radar to avoid vehement opinions about climate action. [3:45] There is no way to stay under the radar. I’m sorry. There is no way to do this work and not make people feel uncomfortable. [4:00] Norm engineering [4:15] There is going to be friction there. You are going to make people uncomfortable.    In the process of change, you need people to go from not thinking about it all, to starting to think maybe there is something wrong with what I’m doing. [4:45] With pesticides, we needed to raise awareness about impacts with neighbors, school districts, big Ag, etc. [5:30] Just because this isn’t an easy conversation, we aren’t going to walk away. [5:40] There need to be people that will have these conversations. We need to forget about being people pleasers. [6:00] Example: plastic. Those benefiting from profit, comfort, convenience. [6:30] See the discomfort as something positive. [6:40] Good! Now we’re being honest. Let’s talk about what we can do better.   Thank you for listening!   We’d love to hear your thoughts on this over in the Podcast Discussion Group. Get access through the Green Team Essentials at www.GreenTeamAcademy.com     If you like what you're hearing, please subscribe, rate and review!   The time for action is now because there is no Planet B!