The Seven Competences of the Sustainable Professional

If sustainability is to become part of the fabric of 21st-century business, well need to develop a new generation of leaders who can navigate a range of complex business topics. Roorda and Rachelson provide a detailed roadmap, a clear, concise and compelling guide to what it takes to have an impact in todays business world. It goes beyond the theoretical and dives into the trenches, with real stories about real professionals, punctuated by hands-on insights. This is required reading for anyone seeking to be a change-maker in business. Joel Makower, Chairman and Executive Editor, GreenBiz Group A must-read for every member of the human race. Why? Unlike any other book on sustainability I have ever read, it is approachable, entertaining, smart, and thought-provoking. It argues compellingly that sustainable professionalism is the responsibility of us all and unpacks the basic building blocks of humanity. Coro Strandberg, CSR Consultant, Strandberg Consulting, Canada Reading Roorda can be complicated -- but it is always worthwhile! This manuscript lives up to the brilliant level of thought we expect of him. The internationalization of this addition by Rachelson is highly successful. There are inspiring stories here and key insights into becoming an effective sustainability professional -- may this small book make a big difference in your practice. Peter Blaze Corcoran, Peter Blaze Corcoran, Research Fellow, Earth Charter Center for Education for Sustainable Development, University for Peace, Costa Rica This timely book astutely integrates the best insights from predecessors including Steven Covey, David Brooks, and Jeffrey Sachs. The authors provide a set of self-directed stepping stones for those who aspire to not only "be the change they seek in others" but to dynamically institutionalize change to serve humankind within a nurtured and nurturing Planet Earth. Michael J. Lenaghan, Professor, Miami Dade College and Board Chair, Service for Peace, USA The inspiring stories from the professionals that Roorda and Rachelson have brought to life in this fascinating new book create an important antidote for uneasy times and an effective guidebook for sustainability professionals, aspiring millennials, and any reader yearning for smarter uses of precious planetary resources. It just might help us accomplish a soft landing for civilization, before its too late. Joel Solomon, Chairman of Renewal Funds, Canada

Niko Roorda is a leading consultant and author in Sustainable Development and CSR. He has coached more than 50 universities and other organizations in the development and implementation of sustainability-related strategies and policies. Anouchka Rachelson is a professor in the department of World Languages, Miami Dade College, USA.

Introduction 1. One of my heroes 2. Responsibility 3. Competent professionals 4. Emotional Intelligence 5. Sustainably competent professionals 6. Systems orientation 7. Levels of competence 8. Future orientation 9. The toolbox of the professional 10. Involvement 11. Every profession has its own competences 12. Action skills 13. All the competences of the rainbow 14. Application of RESFIA+D in real life References and Weblinks Glossary About the Authors Acknowledgments Index