After a baseline and goals have been set, consistent progress reporting becomes necessary. In addition to the various internal audiences to which a project manager will be responsible for reporting, all external audiences and broadcast opportunities should be identified and exploited. Awareness is key to success in sustainability, and reliable, impactful data is an important communication tool. When a successful program is effectively communicated from managers, it is more likely to be recognized by third parties, further increasing its reach. Effective reporting of data requires fully understanding one’s audience. Whether assembling a comprehensive report for the board of directors or…

Once establishing where you stand, the next step is to determine where you need to go. Haphazardly approaching goal setting will make program managers less efficient and program reporting problematic. Your long-term goals should be built upon industry-recognized standards versus that with which program managers or executives feel comfortable. Depending on your baseline, the timeframe for achieving these goals may be long. It is important to incorporate ongoing milestones that are achievable, so program managers and your organization can positively promote progress toward the long-term goal. If your industry does not have recognized goals, your organization should utilize assessments such…