| | AUG - SEPT 202319to go so that you can clearly communicate the mission and inspire others to embrace it. Having a clear vision also enables everyone to work towards the same goal. Our goal is to be a leader in the fight against climate change. Be authentic. Being authentic creates higher levels of trust which creates a positive working environment and increases productivity. Be transparent with your employees about all aspects of work and performance, including your own mistakes and weaknesses. Being authentic helps to create an environment of psychological safety in which people are comfortable with expressing and being themselves. Be inclusive. Achieving zero emissions is our goal, but how we get there is not set in stone. By being flexible, you allow for the input of others. Creating space for personal initiative and decision-making helps to foster a sense of ownership. A simple method is to facilitate brainstorming sessions to discuss concerns and develop solutions. All too often, leaders feel that they need to provide the answers; instead, they create a space for open dialogue and promote the sharing of different perspectives. Stay connected. It is important that you are visible and responsive to your employees. This helps to build open communication and trust. With almost 300 employees within my business unit, this can be challenging. I have found that "town halls" or "all-hands" are effective when trying to disseminate information quickly but is usually one-sided conversation. What I have found to be more effective when trying to promote open dialogue is attending smaller group meetings, dropping into staff meetings, and having regular one on ones with my entire leadership team (supervisors, managers, and directors). This allows you to stay up to date on progress and keep informed on challenges that may require additional attention. Normalize failing and celebrate successes. You will never fail if you never try, but you will never succeed. Failure is a normal part of progress; it is how we grow and develop. We must destigmatize failure to help reduce the fear of trying something new. My leadership team discusses failures openly; we focus on what was learned or gained, and we pivot as needed. Be persistent. There will always be setbacks and challenges. Persistence is simply the refusal to give up. What helps is to know the reason behind your goals. It is simple, and I want to leave this world a better place for our children and grandchildren. The energy industry is going through a significant transformation. Regulations will continue to require increases in renewable resources, electrification will challenge local grid capacity, distributed energy resources will change how energy is delivered, and rates will need to evolve to eliminate inequities in the cost and benefits of distributed energy resources. Fear, anxiety, and denial are normal responses to change, but this transition is happening. Effective change leadership is an essential skill that is needed to help employees navigate through this transformation. Our goal is to achieve zero emissions in our power supply by 2030 and to help facilitate the region's decarbonization efforts through the electrification of vehicles and buildings
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