Let’s explore now how proper Team Management contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

We will analyse the general characteristics of sustainable development goals (SDGs) and their correlation with team management and we will discover some tips to achieve them through effective team management.

To meet these objectives, we will examine:

  • The role of the green team management skills in the realization of the SDGs;
  • How human resources management corresponds to Decent work and economic growth (SDG 8);
  • Team management in Responsible consumption and production (SDG 12);
  • Team management and Climate action (SDG 13).

After this module you will be able to recognize the importance of team management and green skills in achieving the selected sustainable development goals, and how to carry out your professional tasks while using green skills to contribute to the sustainable development of the economy.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global targets adopted by all United Nations (UN) member states as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The SDGs aim to address the world's most pressing challenges today, such as poverty, hunger, social inequality, environmental degradation, climate change, and the promotion of peace and justice.

Sustainable Development Goals are a roadmap for transforming and redesigning the world to meet the needs of the present generation in a sustainable way that respects the environment and takes into account the needs of future generations. The SDGs have been developed in response to the need of sustainable development, which takes into account the interlinkages between social, economic, and environmental issues.

They aim to:

  1. Eradicate poverty: striving to improve the quality of life of the poorest and most vulnerable communities around the world.
  2. Protecting the planet: introducing measures to protect the environment, combat climate change, and conserve biodiversity.
  3. Ensuring prosperity: promoting sustainable economic growth, health, education, and equality of opportunity for all people.
Sustainable Development Goals

How SDGs relate to Team Management

Effective team management plays a crucial role in the successful implementation of SDGs. By fostering collaboration, innovation, and efficient use of resources, skilled team management can drive initiatives that align with the goals. This is a considerable challenge, and it is, therefore, a key issue to ascertain how managers can deploy their expertise and skills to help work towards the SDGs while keeping their teams engaged.

There are a plethora of recommendations for managers, including educating senior management on climate issues and supporting employee activism, as well as the creation of positions specifically responsible for driving environmental sustainability initiatives.

If you would like to find out more about what tasks belong to the SDG Manager and discover an interesting tool to make your work easier, explore: SDG Action Manager SDG Action Manager | UN Global Compact.

Here’s a general overview of how specific team management skills can support the realization of each SDG.

A sustainable Team Manager should incorporate into his work with people skills such as Leadership & Vision, Communication & Collaboration, Strategic Planning & Execution, Innovation & Problem-solving, Training & Development, and Monitoring & Evaluation.

We encourage you to take a look at the map of sample skills and their impact on the individual SDGs: