By Alec Masella

The ability to communicate complex sustainability issues is a crucial step in solving them. One of the newest faculty members at the Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability, Mary Berry, teaches this topic in her Leadership Communication for Sustainability Professionals course, available now in the Online Master of Natural Resources program.

“The course is presented in two parts,” Mary explains. “First, I want students to develop a firm understanding of environmental communication, and what features of this type of communication have changed over time. In the latter part of the course, students take a deep dive into their own personal styles of leadership.”

Discovering your communication style
Students have the opportunity to learn more about their individual styles of leadership by navigating the texts Breaking Through Gridlock: The Power of Conversation by Jason Jay and Gabriel Grant, and Leading Out Loud by Terry Pearce. Since all students fall on a continuum of age and experience, these texts will help outline how different approaches to leadership work together. 

“These books, along with class discussion, will help students get an interior look at what makes them leaders,” she says. “Is it empathy? Is it how you react to different situations? I want students to be more aware of things they don’t even know they are doing, and I also want them to become more aware of roadblocks. Some may struggle with engaging in difficult conversations, for instance. Recognizing these attitudes and actions will help students find their true communication style and then hone it.”

Focusing on reflection and personal development
Leadership Communication for Sustainability Professionals provides tangible skills which students can apply right away—not only in their professional lives, but in their personal relationships as well. Through class exercises, students learn to listen with an open mind and engage with new ideas in order to gain better insights into global issues and to better understand human psychology. Mary explains, “Sometimes the feedback that I get has to do with students feeling uncomfortable with the group exercises. That’s how deep we are getting in this course. Learning how to lead through communication pushes students to take an honest look at themselves—what they excel in, what they can improve—and in the end I find that students are actually grateful for how the course has helped them in their daily lives.”

Applying concepts to sustainability topics
Students will be assigned two major projects throughout the course: one focused on communication in the sustainability field, and the other related to leadership communication in a topic they are passionate about. In the past, students have explored ideas that have been touched on in class, but not necessarily unpacked, such as the increase of vegetarian options at restaurants or the fuel efficiency of aircrafts. These leadership communication projects are to be written in the form of a guide, instructing others on how to effectively lead in a certain field.

“The final assignment is a reflection on how their thinking has changed throughout the class,” Mary concludes. “They can also share examples of how they’ve applied the content in their work. It’s all about growth. The course is about learning, processing, and reacting, and they will get to experience this development in real time. They will also reflect on how they’ve learned from their peers. The biggest takeaway is an enhanced sense of understanding and authenticity in an effort to better communicate with others. Once that becomes a part of us, then it will manifest in our personal and professional lives.”

Mary Berry

Mary Berry teaches Leadership Communication for Sustainability Professionals with an emphasis on environmental communications, emotional intelligence, and leadership development. She received her Master of Arts in Communications and Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University. Her background is rooted in communications, marketing, strategic visioning, and organizational development. She is the spokesperson for the YMCA of the Inland Northwest and has over 20 years’ experience collaborating with nonprofit providers. As a member of the YMCA executive leadership team, she sets the communications and marketing strategies while participating in the development of the strategic initiatives for the organization.