What I liked about the Sergey Ross Podcast

I’ve done about 10 podcasts to promote my book, The Battle To Do Good: Inside McDonald’s Sustainability Journey.  Each has been enjoyable. Each brings a special quality and experience.  I like the purpose of Sergey Ross’s podcast: exploring the psychology of business leadership.   We discuss how to influence, how to deal with conflict, and how to work with critics and forge change.

For the audio version, click here:

https://www.sergeyross.live/podcast/episode/9494d8a5/45-bob-langert-on-leadership-and-sustainability-at-mcdonalds

For the video version (beware of my unwieldly hands, click here:

https://www.sergeyross.live/video-clips

 

Sergey asked many questions about the psychology of business.

An Ode to the Sustainability Profession

Since I was a kid in third grade, I have jotted down poems. I remember half listening to my teachers while scribbling down my ideas.  Since then, when opportunity knocks, like a retirement, a special anniversary, or some other special occasion, I’ll write a poem to convey my thoughts.

This poem came about because the Editor in Chief of GreenBiz, Joel Makower, a good man I have trusted and admired for nearly 30 years, recently wrote a piece saluting sustainability professionals.  As I read it, I started to write this poem in my head.  Enjoy!

https://www.greenbiz.com/article/ode-sustainability-profession

What challenges did McDonald’s face in setting up sustainable supply chains?

Spotlight: what challenges did McDonald’s face in setting up sustainable supply chains?

Bob Langert, former McDonald’s executive, led McDonald’s Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability efforts for more than twenty-five years before retiring in 2015. In his book The Battle to Do Good: Inside McDonald’s Sustainability Journey, he gives a first-hand account of how the company embarked on a decades-long battle to address challenges, including establishing sustainable supply chains.

You can read an excerpt here, the full chapter for a limited time here, and find out more about the book on the Emerald Bookstore below.

How to Turn Adversaries into Allies with your Storytelling

Park Howell is the very best communicator, so I was thrilled to be interviewed by him.  And I love the topic. Why can’t we get along better?  Why is there so much polarization?  Park digs deep. I hope you enjoy our discussion.

#220: How to Turn Adversaries Into Allies With Your Storytelling

If you’re a leader of a purpose-driven brand, you’re seeking ways to advance your positive social impact further faster. But even when you are trying to do good for the world, there may be some who criticize the cause. So how do you overcome that? Learn how you can leverage storytelling to create allies out of adversaries and ultimately propel your mission forward.

Bob Langert is a prominent executive, published author, and columnist for the prestigious GreenBiz. For many years, he worked for a global brand that was long viewed by the public as a hero – but suddenly found itself perceived as the villain. This condemnation from the public created a need for change within the brand. Therefore, Bob spent the next 27 years helping to launch, manage and grow McDonald’s social and environmental efforts.

In order to be credible in sustainability, you have to talk about the problems and the barriers your story faces, along with the successes; you have to be very honest and straightforward. ~ Bob Langert

However, many marketers and brand communicators shy away from this because they fear what the opposition will do with the information. But that apprehension is often one of the greatest barriers to the mission’s success.

Conflict is a really good thing because it challenges your thinking and pushes you to keep moving forward. ~Bob Langert

So instead of avoiding individuals and groups that speak out against your work, be open to learning from them. By respecting your critics and asking about their viewpoints, you are able to see missed opportunities in your work, and in turn, you create a space where they are often more willing and open to listening to and helping you.

Sometimes you have to acknowledge that you are not the expert on the specific topic and acknowledge that the ‘adversaries’ may actually be experts and can help you do better in this area for your organization. ~Bob Langert

Discussed in this Episode

  • The 3 P’s and how to utilize them to advance your mission
  • Why there is more than one way you should perceive the “villains” of your story
  • The importance of being open to and receptive of viewpoints that differ from your own
  • The importance of talking about what you and/or your organization is doing in regards to social-cause work

 

#220: How to Turn Adversaries Into Allies With Your Storytelling