Coping with recession now vs. global warming later

The short-term crisis vs. the longer-term one has always been at the center of business management. This time the long-term issue is a little larger in scope.

What are some ways to resolve the conflict between the two?

1. Split time and effort. So Google allows its staff one day a week -- 20% -- for undirected, presumably longer-term research. Small businesses will say that every hour of employee time counts, and there’s no equivalent “slack” in the ropes as there is in a larger company. I’m not convinced! Not that you can sacrifice social interaction to this cause any more than you can sacrifice responding to customers, but as an example, think how much time is spent in personal conversations, gossip, shopping online, etc. Yes, everyone knows employees who arrive early, sit down and start working, and don’t change the rhythm of their work effort until the day is done. But the rest of us hate that person! I think it’s possible and even urgent to schedule time for two new activities: innovation and long-term thinking; and reducing your carbon footprint. Maybe start with an hour each a week? Work away from your regular desk, if possible, to reduce the rubber band pull back to your routine.
2. Find short-term benefits to make swallowing the effort involved in dealing with long-term issues go down smoothly. Not sure what those might be! If compact fluorescents cost more than incandescents, short-term accounting will resist. But maybe some of the time you spend in point 1 can be devoted to research: are there rebates available which deliver a short-term benefit? Does showing your staff that you care about an issue they care about inspire them to work harder/smarter, and lower turnover?
3. Do you have a third?