February 9, 2024 • 31 mins
Join us in this informative episode of the Ecology Academy podcast, hosted by Richard Dodd, as we explore the complexities of the rapidly changing world of ecology. We delve deep into recent ecological developments, updated guidelines, new regulations, and the impact of technological advancements on the field. This episode aims to inspire listeners, whether students, professionals, or nature enthusiasts, to embrace change with a growth mindset.
Richard emphasizes resilience and the potential benefits these changes can bring to our natural environment. He also discusses practical strategies for adapting to these changes, highlighting the importance of prioritizing, identifying impactful changes in our expertise areas, and the value of training sessions. Alongside, he strongly recommends continuous learning, seeking advice, and staying informed about the latest research to enhance an ecologist's competence.
This episode further underscores the importance of managing client expectations in the face of new changes and regulations. Through honest communication and transparency, we can guide clients precisely, explaining how these changes are likely to affect their projects, highlighting potential challenges, delays, and additional costs.
Richard encourages adopting a collaborative approach in these challenging times. Leveraging social media platforms, reaching out to colleagues, and seeking mentorship can significantly help in maintaining your skillset and adapting to change. This steadfast pursuit of learning culminates with a brief introduction to future topics including 'Great Crested Newt Licensing'. We look forward to your continual engagement with us on this vibrant learning journey!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:01):
I'm Richard Dodd and you're listening to the Ecology Academy podcast.
This is a show where we get to talk and learn about all things ecological,
including interviews with top ecologists, both employers and employees,
those working with ecologists, and also aspiring and inspiring career-seeking
individuals setting out to make a difference.
(00:21):
The show aims to provide you with insights, advice, and inspiration to help
you succeed and excel as an effective ecologist, and to make a real difference
to our natural environment.
Hi there and welcome to another episode of the Ecology Academy podcast.
Now this episode is about navigating change. So what do we mean by this?
(00:45):
Well, there's been a lot going on recently.
I mean, you can't help but notice there's been lots of changes to and improvements
to guidelines, you know, bat survey guidelines, there's the bat mitigation guidelines.
Lines and of course it is February 2024 let's not also forget the biodiversity
net gain becoming mandatory in England and the sort of how we go about navigating
(01:10):
this within both our set for ourselves.
We work for a company, how our company adapts to this and how they adapt to
these changes and how our whole industry adapts to the changes too.
And of course, the natural environment, how does this stand to benefit from these recent changes?
So this episode is going to be a little bit strange one. It's just me today.
(01:33):
And we're going to be looking at understanding these changes from an ecological
point of view, from ourselves as ecological consultants, environmental managers.
How we, you know, how we cope with this change, what we should be looking at
to do in terms of, you know, helping ourselves to manage this change.
We're going to look at the mindset for managing that change.
(01:56):
We're also going to look at some practical strategies for adapting to change
too, as well as, of course, looking at some resources for ourselves as ecologists.
So let's start with understanding these changes.
Now, as I say, we can't help but
notice there's been a lot lot of changes in the past six
to twelve months you know we've been gearing up for
(02:18):
biodiversity net gain becoming mandatory in england for
what seems like almost an eternity you know gone for those changes there is
a lot of information out there some brilliant guidance being put together and
workshops being for free so that's been put together by various bodies and obviously
(02:39):
obviously Obviously, you know, the people behind that,
experts in their field providing that guidance.
So, you know, biodiversity in a game is pretty well covered.
We know it's going to be arriving very shortly. I was really called this. It's just before.
I think about five days before we actually go out to work.
Five to seven days before it actually becomes mandatory.
(03:00):
But before that, we've had the BAT survey guidelines coming out,
you know, just the end of 2023.
BAT mitigation guidelines going out. and it can get overwhelming in terms of
the amount of information we need to absorb.
And what we do with this information, how is it going to relate to what we do
as ecologists out in the field, how we write our reports and ultimately to the
(03:22):
advice and information we give to our clients, managing their expectations,
delivering upon those results and clearly how that will also benefit our natural environments.
So we need to ensure that we may be able to read learning some techniques as
well as learning new skills that are coming along with new technology,
(03:42):
being implemented in part of some of that survey efforts.
AI, automation coming in and being used extensively across our industry,
as well as how do we advise our clients and what it means for them in terms of their outcomes.
But also, there's going to be some changes. There's going to be some additional
(04:04):
responsibilities that we may need to undertake, additional reporting and so forth.
And so that's going to mean that probably we're going to manage the expectations
in terms of time and money as well.
So it's all these knock-on effects we're going to have to consider.
How do we inform, get the best out of them?
I say this change and making sure that it's implemented correctly.
(04:28):
So that's what we're going to focus upon today.
And I think the first part of it is about ourselves.
Let's focus on how we deal with this. this.
And I think mindset is going to be crucial for this.
Now, for those of you who've listened to this podcast a few times,
which I hope you have, and please, if it's your first time, you're very much welcome.
(04:50):
And please, what I will say is, right at the very start over here,
is to enable this to get better, this podcast to get better,
improve it, we get more people involved, please do subscribe.
It's amazing how many people just don't subscribe to this podcast.
And, you know, that's the one thing I can ask for you to do as a favour for
(05:11):
me, just to go and subscribe to this podcast itself.
It really does help improve our understanding of numbers and so forth.
But anyway, that's an aside.
So let's talk about the mindset. If you listened to the podcast before,
we talked about mindset in previous episodes.
So this concept about mindset, and particularly the growth mindset,
(05:31):
that was popularized by the psychologist Carol Dweck.
And it suggested that our abilities and intelligence
can be developed over time compared to what's
known as a fixed mindset which is you know
things happen for a reason there's no point you
know worrying about it because we cannot change anything we
just go on with the status quo and you know that leads to issues related to
(05:56):
the way we deal with not only problems arising within our own lives and challenges
but also you know our expectations and outcomes of life too so we're We're going
to approach this, we should be approaching this,
with what's known as an open or growth mindset.
And for us as ecologists, this means viewing new guidelines and regulations not as obstacles,
(06:17):
but as opportunities to grow our expertise and enhance our impacts on our conservation
efforts and restoring that biodiversity loss, which I'm quite extremely passionate about.
So it's embracing a growth mindset. set it encourages us to ask questions seek
out those learning opportunities and remain adaptable in the face of change
(06:38):
because change is inevitable we're always going to be experiencing some sort
of change whether it be change on a daily basis where you know seasonal,
Or, you know, of course, as these new things come in, these new guidance come
in, you know, how we approach this change.
Now, I think staying resilient is also another key aspect of having the right mindset.
(07:01):
Now, changes, especially significant ones like we're experiencing, can be challenging.
So there's going to be frustration, there's going to be setbacks and a learning curve.
You know we go for this learning curve which starts off with a
low amount of information and expertise
and skill and as we
go along it you know all of a sudden it becomes lighter we go
(07:22):
actually do you know what i'm getting to understand this and they get to another
point another inflection point which goes oh my gosh there's so much to to learn
so much to understand i don't think i'll be able to do it all and we sort of
dip down again and it's such it's not this curve is you know it's more like
a roller coaster ride you know i think that's the way to treat it that that, you know,
we may be getting somewhere, then all of a sudden it changes.
(07:43):
So, you know, I think resilience is one of those words that gets banded around.
And it's right, you know, we need to bounce back from certain challenges.
And some of us, you know, we all can do it.
But it's a question of how long we stay in this.
I think one of the terms was this pit of despair, which sounds really bad.
You don't want to be in a pit of despair, do you? So it's looking at how do
(08:06):
we navigate this change coming about? about how do we move from a state of stasis to actually action.
And this resilience is understanding that we can bounce back from these sort
of challenges and move it forward. So it involves...
A positive outlook. It's managing stress effectively and learning from each
(08:30):
other's experiences and our own experiences.
And just remember that every challenge is an opportunity to learn something new.
Now, also, let's not forget that we don't have to go alone. There is the power
of others, you know, seeking out assistance.
And again, going to like core competencies, you know, it's knowing our own limitations
and also know when to ask for advice and also accept advice when it is offered.
(08:55):
So it's the power of our own community. And the ecological community is amazing.
So you can go on to these different platforms, you know, social media platforms,
you know, Facebook, LinkedIn, and, you know, but there's also,
you know, I say coaching.
Coaching really does help. It's helped me. I know that's, you know,
I have my own personal coaches in terms of for my life, but also for business as well.
(09:20):
And they help me enormously run through problems because more than likely,
we probably have the solution, the answer ourselves, but it just needs teasing out.
And I'm going on, I am actually on a coaching course at the moment and it highlights
so much the power of being able, you know, someone being there just to listen to you.
(09:44):
I mean, and the power to just have that freedom to talk.
Is amazing. It's liberating. And so, you know, I really do think,
you know, the power of coaching, being coached is extremely important.
So let's not just go it alone.
You know, there are that support mechanisms there. So use those social media
platforms, question it and don't rely on it too heavily.
(10:07):
But, you know, it's there. You make your own judgments.
So I say no one navigates change in
isolation or no one should navigate change in isolation and
by leaning in on our professional networks sharing
knowledge collaborating on best practice we
can support each other through these transitions so
don't think you have to go it alone you know there's obviously
(10:30):
if you're a freelance ecologist you know it may seem a
lot harder for you but you know you've probably got
your own networks you go out there those i say those community
forums we can reach out to but you know there's always
someone you can actually discuss things with you know
and doesn't mean that they're right doesn't mean
you're wrong you know everyone else will have a different opinion
so guidelines are especially that you know it is a guidance on a particular
(10:54):
approach you may have a different interpretation of these guidelines and how
to implement them so no one really you know there's there are you know right
approaches multiple approaches and They're multiple wrong approaches,
but it doesn't mean there's just one approach to take.
So engaging in forums, as I said, attending workshops and participating in webinars.
(11:16):
I mean, there's so many webinars out there, particularly for biodiversity net gain at the moment.
Take advantage of those, explore them, stay curious.
And, you know, I think these are excellent ways to stay connected and informed.
And finally, touched on one there, embracing a continuous learning sort of mindset.
(11:37):
You know, that curiosity. And we talk about curiosity a lot on this podcast
and just enabling that everything is a learning opportunity.
We may not know it all today.
Each day, we can incrementally increase our knowledge, increase our understanding,
and then gain that skill over time in order to help ourselves,
(11:59):
help our colleagues, and help our communities and our natural environments.
And as you're no doubt aware, the ecological field, it's dynamic at the moment.
It really is changing. So I think we do need to stay informed about the latest
research, the guidance, technologies.
It's all part of our job. And how to become that effective ecologist,
(12:22):
it's understanding that change is inevitable and we are part of that journey
and embracing it. You know, so, you know, I must admit, I'm probably guilty.
I do love a shiny new penny. So when something new comes along,
I probably do embrace it and rush into it.
And, you know, I've got to look at my own limitations, which is going too much
(12:43):
into it and thinking, oh, this is the best thing ever without fully exploring it, questioning it,
analysing the information coming in before adapting to it or adopting those new procedures.
Procedures so that's where the benefit of having
a fantastic team which I do work with are here
who can actually sense check things make sure there you know there is a bit
(13:04):
of friction there friction can be good to actually pull us back a bit to say
actually you know it looks like we should be going in this direction what are
the implications if we do you know what are the you know what are the benefits
and then what are the um the downsides of actually implementing this change.
So this might mean dedicating time each day, each week to reading,
(13:25):
listening to podcasts. Obviously, this one's a fantastic one.
Attending training sessions. I mean, we just released, just to give an example,
you know, we just released QFields for Ecologists on our Ecology Academy platform
there, which has been a great uptake on that. It's been needed, required.
So this is tapping into using digital transformation, digital transformation,
(13:46):
adopting new technologies out in the field rather than a pen and paper.
Collecting the information out in the field, putting that together and then
using it to then transform the information back into the office environment, shall we say.
But there are technologies there to link those devices together.
I mean, not just Qfield. I say Qfield is out now, you know, to look at.
(14:09):
But, you know, it's keeping up with the latest, say, information,
the training sessions, even enrolling in those courses and that delve into the
specifics of new regulations and also survey techniques.
So there you go. That's a little bit about mindset for managing the change.
But of course, that's just an overview.
Those are just words. You know, you've got to implement them yourselves.
(14:33):
So let's look about the practical strategies for adapting to change.
So as we mentioned before, in this dynamic field of ecology,
it requires not just a positive mindset but also
actionable strategies you know if
we're going to achieve something we need to do something so whether
it's updating you know methods for bat surveys the way
(14:54):
we undertake them adapting to new mitigation guidelines understanding what works
what may not work and and questioning those it's in you know you know in a process
of curiosity or implementing the biodiversity net gain assessments the different
metrics there you you know, the different reporting required.
(15:15):
How can we stay ahead of that curve? Well, prioritization is going to be part of that.
So with a sheer volume of updates and new information available,
knowing where to focus our attention is going to be crucial.
So I think, I mean, this is just me. I mean, I'm just giving you my insights here.
But I think we need to start by identifying the changes that most directly impact
(15:37):
our current areas of expertise. You know, the current areas we prioritise in
and that really can help actually make a benefit.
So if you undertake BAT surveys, for instance, maybe you're going to want to
start looking at the BAT mitigation and BAT survey guidelines, reading the guidance.
I mean, it sounds really simple. Strategy is read the guidance.
(15:58):
OK, that's a great way to start. next is
certainly then discuss the guidance with maybe a
colleague engage on social media you know
in those those those wonderful sort of rabbit holes
that people go down in as well so uh you know exploring different
avenues and but but be aware that there is always going to be that critic that
(16:20):
there who may have going back to the mindset maybe a little bit of a fixed mindset
these are rubbish i don't see why we need to change they were perfectly good
before i don't don't agree with this person, you know, it's take this chapter,
I think we should have gone further, you know, it doesn't go far enough.
You know, all these are, you know, valid arguments, valid points.
But they will end in sort of that pit of despair, doesn't push you forward.
(16:44):
So I think questioning things, yes, understanding them, maybe going,
actually, you know, how can we implement these changes into my own working practices?
And that's it, reading, reading understanding understanding talking
to people and i think that is and and re-evaluating your position i think those
are going to be important parts of the you know prioritization you know so starting
(17:07):
with let's say if you're into bats you know start with a you know reading that
guide and obviously with biodiversity again if you want to be specialized in that area.
Understanding the or the guidance that's coming out
the the the viewpoints of other
stakeholders so whether you be a landowner a
developer the local planning authority whether you
(17:28):
be a broker whether you be in the ecologist you know
what does actually mean to you know how you go about communicating with these
different stakeholders landscape architects you know you may not have worked
with them you know in such an intense way as you may have to on with with the
binarist net net gain implementations so you know it's looking at where can we make that most impact,
(17:51):
i say also areas to
look at in terms of gaining your knowledge using trusted sources such as official
websites official organizations and associations peer-reviewed journals for
instance gathering that accurate information and sharing it setting up but you
can even set up alerts i I mean, I've done this with,
(18:12):
you know, Google Alerts, you know, setting up an alert when something changes,
I get a notification of that change.
Obviously, on the government websites, you can set those as well.
Then LinkedIn is amazing.
I mean, if you go on LinkedIn daily, you know, you'll see all these things pop
up. And, you know, I'm just talking about now, this is a little side.
Obviously, Planning Policy Wales is just in Edition 12, I think it is,
(18:35):
has just come into effect.
So I've got to read those guidelines, you know, sorry, the Planning Policy there.
And what does that mean to, you know, previous iterations?
And do we need to change our reports and advise our clients differently, so forth?
Biodiversity and so it's setting up those
alerts keeping it up to date with that information themselves
also implementing the new
(18:58):
guidance that's going to be part of your strategy so how
do you implement it you've discussed it you've talked
with colleagues you're going to approach okay have we
got the right resources in terms of time capability capacity
to once you deliver these new services or
changes to these these guidance for instance so you
know bats have of the guidance the use use of night vision
(19:20):
aids for some instance do we have that can
we get the equipment is it right equipment these are all decisions
that may need to may be made if you're again you
know if you're a freelance scholar there's obviously information out there to
get it helps you if you're a part of a team to actually
discuss these things and test them don't think
you're gonna have to you're gonna get perfect straight away i think
(19:41):
there is some mileage privilege within
the phrase you know perfect is the
enemy of good you know it doesn't mean we shouldn't aim for perfection but
um you know but i think um if you're a perfectionist it
can be overwhelming in terms of oh i've got to get the right equipment if
i don't get the right equipment it's going to be a waste of time it's going
to be a waste of money that may happen but things do change again it's this
(20:03):
change management ensuring that and we're on top of our game at a certain point
and understanding you know if we did make a mistake or an error it's learning
from that so So it is always a learning opportunity.
So I think in terms of implementing the guidance, once you've identified the
key changes, the challenges, integrate them into our existing workflows.
(20:26):
So it's going out and trying it. So the new guidance came out,
the survey guidance for instance came out late last year.
This is going to be the first season we're going to implement it.
Let's see how it goes. It's a test.
So just treat it as an experiment. You know, we are scientists as ecologists.
Let's use this as an experiment and, you know, get the most out of it.
And it will inform the next round. You know, maybe by the end of May,
(20:50):
beginning of June, we can understand, do you know what?
Actually, we're going to have to start charging our clients more because we're
doing X, Y, Z instead of what we did before.
You know, there's an extra criteria. Or you may be even charging less because
you can adapt new technologies into your survey methodology.
For instance, the use of drones.
(21:11):
I'd say there's night vision aids if we can do other surveys themselves.
Just to give a bit about AI, we use Copilot within some of our reporting to
help us understand and summarize part of our reports.
It doesn't write them for us. Don't get me wrong. You know, we're not at that
stage when they're writing our reports for us, but it does help us in terms
(21:34):
of the quality assurance aspects and also summarization of different reports. So leaning into that.
So, again, it might mean revisiting or revising data collection methods,
updating your report templates or, as I said, adopting new software tools.
You start by outlining the specific steps you need to comply with the new guidelines.
(21:55):
Guidelines i would say compliance with a loose term there
remember they are guidance you know but you know local authorities
local planning authorities will be looking that you are going to implement these
and they'll be looking at justifications for you falling
going outside of this guidance so look at the new guidance how you're going
to comply with it how are you going to convey that to your reader or readers
(22:17):
as we know to ensure that it gets through your the the planning and serve the
purpose that it's intended to do for our clients.
You're going to create a timeline for incorporating these perhaps into your practice.
So for instance, we're going for at the moment, changing our project management software.
Or update and get ready. So, you know, we use software called Workflow Max.
(22:40):
There are many of us out there.
Workflow Max and Workflow Max, you know, it's one of these things that,
you know, you see a lot of people, oh, it's going to be sunset,
and it's going to be retired at the end of June.
And that's correct in terms of, you know, who it's being currently hosted with, with Xero Company.
But it's going to be taken on by a different company. So we've got to look at,
okay, do we want that new product, new software?
(23:03):
If not, where else do we go to look look, where do we go to look for our project management software?
But, you know, we've gone along the journey. We've seen what's going to be happening
in the new version. I think it's going to be a greater project improvement.
But we need a timeline to set in terms of migration across to the new platform.
Looking at the training in terms of maybe some key champions of this new platform.
(23:28):
Then it's the indication of the then the next
method is then to train everyone else
on that platform itself and then go
for the changes and the snagging you know i mean there's gonna be a
few different changes and again to it and it may be
some issues so it's understanding that it's not gonna be
perfect straight away as long as people you know
understand that changes to anything we do
(23:50):
any methodology is going to have a sort of
a built-in learning experience feedback and
in view is extremely important before we actually
go too far down the road when actually it's going
to take a lot more effort to you know restart something
again so you know making sure we've got a right timeline we've got a plan for
action implementation into into your practices and it can help to you know as
(24:16):
i say to pilot these changes on a smaller project before rona gets out to maybe
to all your staff or to every single client of yours.
Now, we talk about clients. Advising our clients is another critical aspect of this.
Okay, with the new regulations and guidance in play, our clients rely on us
for accurate and up-to-date advice.
(24:38):
That's what our role is as consultants. We advise.
So when communicating changes, clarity is going to be key.
So we need to be prepared to to explain not only what the changes are,
but also how they impact the client's project, both in terms of outcomes and timelines.
So, you know, is this going to delay the project? Is it going to bring the project forward?
(25:01):
Are there going to be, you know, additional requirements on them in terms of
documentation or additional services that we're going to have to require to actually implement?
And it's communicating that effectively to them at the right time.
And again, don't worry, you know, you know, ideally you want to get it all right
in the right order. But sometimes, you know, we're still learning.
(25:22):
Hopefully there's a little bit of lean and see from your clients in such a period
of, you know, immense change that.
You know, just advising your clients, look, this is coming in,
being honest with them, you know, we know this much, but their things may change as people go along.
You know, the local playing golf varieties will certainly be,
you know, it's going to be an enormous amount of change for them going through,
(25:46):
you know, all these different guidance changes and in England with Biodiversity Net Game, for instance.
So they're going to have to, you know, catch up as well and understand that,
you know, what it actually means.
There's policy changes, legislation changes it's
all have an impact we will have to work alongside them to
understand it so don't think you know that's what
(26:08):
it'd be about managing our client's expectations we're all
in a learning journey here on a learning journey so emphasize the positive aspects
of why things how it can how it should be improved the environmental impacts
and compliance benefits and remember managing expectations is going to be crucial
so we've got to be realistic about the the challenges and the potential for
(26:29):
delays and additional costs.
It's about being honest to ourselves and to others.
It's not trying to mask, I'm the expert in part of this net gain.
I'm the expert in these new guidance.
Don't worry, what they're saying is wrong.
No, we may get things wrong ourselves and it's understanding that and it's being considerate,
(26:51):
having that honesty with ourselves that we will get some things wrong as we go along. this journey.
Okay. And I suppose finally, you know, we touched upon this,
I suppose he's looking at, well, okay, what advice, what support is there out
there for us? And mentioned about, you know.
(27:11):
Podcasts, there's the guidance notes themselves, the booklets,
there's the websites to go on, the professional websites.
It's keeping up to date with that, attending these courses, Qfield's open,
to help stay informed about the changes and improve our skills.
So it's a lot to take in. It can be quite overwhelming.
Hopefully that's helped in terms of about navigating change and adopting to
(27:35):
these new ecological guidelines.
Guidelines i really do advocate you know
seeking out support now that may be support
for your colleagues maybe support through you know
you know social media for instance but i
think we as humans you know we really do crave that connection and
where where you get it is going to be you know it's going to be it's going
(27:55):
to be crucial so i really do advocate for you
know a collaborative approach getting advice
getting a buddy out there mentoring coaching services
i think it all really does help and we all need
support throughout our journey you know
no one should be you know it should be
feel that they need to be isolated from what we do
(28:17):
and what we do as ecologists because if we want
to achieve our outcomes you know our own you know
and live up to our own values we need to address our
own limiting beliefs whatever they may be recognize them
you know some of them may not go away them or
may always be there but it's looking at that how do we manage those expectations
(28:38):
how do you manage our little inner critics and so forth which do pop up from
time to time and having a coach really does help that explores that gives you
techniques and tips on how to control, how to manage it.
But the good thing about coaching is that mentoring, you know,
if you want to learn a new skill, get up to speed and bring up your expertise.
(29:00):
Mentoring is great and it serves a purpose. Coaching is sort of.
Bringing it out in you you probably have the
answers already but it's just exploring that making
sure that you know you can bring it out to yourself and
as i say you know you probably have the better
solutions than maybe another person does so a
(29:21):
good coach will help you bring that out so i'm going
to stop waffling now hope that's been useful for this
month about navigating change now i'm
going to leave you with this in the next few months we're going
to be exploring exploring great crested newt licensing licensing
they're going to be talking to different individuals about
(29:41):
their licensing experiences what they do in terms of field work and also you
know obtaining different licenses you know whether they've been england and
wales i'm trying to get some for scotland but you know it's going to be a little
bit challenging at the moment we're going to be looking at different licensing
schemes the district licenses scheme such as So through Natural England,
through Natural Resources Wales, and also through Nature Space.
(30:04):
So that's something to look forward to. Probably won't come until April,
but just to say that that's what I'm doing now, being open and honest about
what I'm actually looking at.
Now, if you want to get involved, if you want to suggest a topic or a theme
that we should be talking about on the Ecology Academy podcast, please do get in touch.
Contact me at hello at ecologyacademy.co.uk and leave a message there,
(30:27):
which we can pick up. I will repeat that we are looking for co-hosts.
I'm sure you can. If you can do a better job than me and stop waffling on,
as I'm doing now, and have some benefit, you want to learn a new skill.
So I really am looking for some podcast hosts and co-hosts to actually take this podcast forward.
(30:50):
If that's you, again, hello at ecologyacademy.co.uk and say the reasons why,
what you can help with. OK, well, that's all for now.
But thank you again for listening to me, Richard Dodd, on the Ecology Academy podcast.
(31:26):
Learning is a lifelong endeavour, so stay curious.
Music.
I'm Richard Dodd and you're listening to the Ecology Academy podcast.
This is a show where we get to talk and learn about all things ecological,
including interviews with top ecologists, both employers and employees,
those working with ecologists, and also aspiring and inspiring career-seeking
individuals setting out to make a difference.
(00:21):
The show aims to provide you with insights, advice, and inspiration to help
you succeed and excel as an effective ecologist, and to make a real difference
to our natural environment.
Hi there and welcome to another episode of the Ecology Academy podcast.
Now this episode is about navigating change. So what do we mean by this?
(00:45):
Well, there's been a lot going on recently.
I mean, you can't help but notice there's been lots of changes to and improvements
to guidelines, you know, bat survey guidelines, there's the bat mitigation guidelines.
Lines and of course it is February 2024 let's not also forget the biodiversity
net gain becoming mandatory in England and the sort of how we go about navigating
(01:10):
this within both our set for ourselves.
We work for a company, how our company adapts to this and how they adapt to
these changes and how our whole industry adapts to the changes too.
And of course, the natural environment, how does this stand to benefit from these recent changes?
So this episode is going to be a little bit strange one. It's just me today.
(01:33):
And we're going to be looking at understanding these changes from an ecological
point of view, from ourselves as ecological consultants, environmental managers.
How we, you know, how we cope with this change, what we should be looking at
to do in terms of, you know, helping ourselves to manage this change.
We're going to look at the mindset for managing that change.
(01:56):
We're also going to look at some practical strategies for adapting to change
too, as well as, of course, looking at some resources for ourselves as ecologists.
So let's start with understanding these changes.
Now, as I say, we can't help but
notice there's been a lot lot of changes in the past six
to twelve months you know we've been gearing up for
(02:18):
biodiversity net gain becoming mandatory in england for
what seems like almost an eternity you know gone for those changes there is
a lot of information out there some brilliant guidance being put together and
workshops being for free so that's been put together by various bodies and obviously
(02:39):
obviously Obviously, you know, the people behind that,
experts in their field providing that guidance.
So, you know, biodiversity in a game is pretty well covered.
We know it's going to be arriving very shortly. I was really called this. It's just before.
I think about five days before we actually go out to work.
Five to seven days before it actually becomes mandatory.
(03:00):
But before that, we've had the BAT survey guidelines coming out,
you know, just the end of 2023.
BAT mitigation guidelines going out. and it can get overwhelming in terms of
the amount of information we need to absorb.
And what we do with this information, how is it going to relate to what we do
as ecologists out in the field, how we write our reports and ultimately to the
(03:22):
advice and information we give to our clients, managing their expectations,
delivering upon those results and clearly how that will also benefit our natural environments.
So we need to ensure that we may be able to read learning some techniques as
well as learning new skills that are coming along with new technology,
(03:42):
being implemented in part of some of that survey efforts.
AI, automation coming in and being used extensively across our industry,
as well as how do we advise our clients and what it means for them in terms of their outcomes.
But also, there's going to be some changes. There's going to be some additional
(04:04):
responsibilities that we may need to undertake, additional reporting and so forth.
And so that's going to mean that probably we're going to manage the expectations
in terms of time and money as well.
So it's all these knock-on effects we're going to have to consider.
How do we inform, get the best out of them?
I say this change and making sure that it's implemented correctly.
(04:28):
So that's what we're going to focus upon today.
And I think the first part of it is about ourselves.
Let's focus on how we deal with this. this.
And I think mindset is going to be crucial for this.
Now, for those of you who've listened to this podcast a few times,
which I hope you have, and please, if it's your first time, you're very much welcome.
(04:50):
And please, what I will say is, right at the very start over here,
is to enable this to get better, this podcast to get better,
improve it, we get more people involved, please do subscribe.
It's amazing how many people just don't subscribe to this podcast.
And, you know, that's the one thing I can ask for you to do as a favour for
(05:11):
me, just to go and subscribe to this podcast itself.
It really does help improve our understanding of numbers and so forth.
But anyway, that's an aside.
So let's talk about the mindset. If you listened to the podcast before,
we talked about mindset in previous episodes.
So this concept about mindset, and particularly the growth mindset,
(05:31):
that was popularized by the psychologist Carol Dweck.
And it suggested that our abilities and intelligence
can be developed over time compared to what's
known as a fixed mindset which is you know
things happen for a reason there's no point you
know worrying about it because we cannot change anything we
just go on with the status quo and you know that leads to issues related to
(05:56):
the way we deal with not only problems arising within our own lives and challenges
but also you know our expectations and outcomes of life too so we're We're going
to approach this, we should be approaching this,
with what's known as an open or growth mindset.
And for us as ecologists, this means viewing new guidelines and regulations not as obstacles,
(06:17):
but as opportunities to grow our expertise and enhance our impacts on our conservation
efforts and restoring that biodiversity loss, which I'm quite extremely passionate about.
So it's embracing a growth mindset. set it encourages us to ask questions seek
out those learning opportunities and remain adaptable in the face of change
(06:38):
because change is inevitable we're always going to be experiencing some sort
of change whether it be change on a daily basis where you know seasonal,
Or, you know, of course, as these new things come in, these new guidance come
in, you know, how we approach this change.
Now, I think staying resilient is also another key aspect of having the right mindset.
(07:01):
Now, changes, especially significant ones like we're experiencing, can be challenging.
So there's going to be frustration, there's going to be setbacks and a learning curve.
You know we go for this learning curve which starts off with a
low amount of information and expertise
and skill and as we
go along it you know all of a sudden it becomes lighter we go
(07:22):
actually do you know what i'm getting to understand this and they get to another
point another inflection point which goes oh my gosh there's so much to to learn
so much to understand i don't think i'll be able to do it all and we sort of
dip down again and it's such it's not this curve is you know it's more like
a roller coaster ride you know i think that's the way to treat it that that, you know,
we may be getting somewhere, then all of a sudden it changes.
(07:43):
So, you know, I think resilience is one of those words that gets banded around.
And it's right, you know, we need to bounce back from certain challenges.
And some of us, you know, we all can do it.
But it's a question of how long we stay in this.
I think one of the terms was this pit of despair, which sounds really bad.
You don't want to be in a pit of despair, do you? So it's looking at how do
(08:06):
we navigate this change coming about? about how do we move from a state of stasis to actually action.
And this resilience is understanding that we can bounce back from these sort
of challenges and move it forward. So it involves...
A positive outlook. It's managing stress effectively and learning from each
(08:30):
other's experiences and our own experiences.
And just remember that every challenge is an opportunity to learn something new.
Now, also, let's not forget that we don't have to go alone. There is the power
of others, you know, seeking out assistance.
And again, going to like core competencies, you know, it's knowing our own limitations
and also know when to ask for advice and also accept advice when it is offered.
(08:55):
So it's the power of our own community. And the ecological community is amazing.
So you can go on to these different platforms, you know, social media platforms,
you know, Facebook, LinkedIn, and, you know, but there's also,
you know, I say coaching.
Coaching really does help. It's helped me. I know that's, you know,
I have my own personal coaches in terms of for my life, but also for business as well.
(09:20):
And they help me enormously run through problems because more than likely,
we probably have the solution, the answer ourselves, but it just needs teasing out.
And I'm going on, I am actually on a coaching course at the moment and it highlights
so much the power of being able, you know, someone being there just to listen to you.
(09:44):
I mean, and the power to just have that freedom to talk.
Is amazing. It's liberating. And so, you know, I really do think,
you know, the power of coaching, being coached is extremely important.
So let's not just go it alone.
You know, there are that support mechanisms there. So use those social media
platforms, question it and don't rely on it too heavily.
(10:07):
But, you know, it's there. You make your own judgments.
So I say no one navigates change in
isolation or no one should navigate change in isolation and
by leaning in on our professional networks sharing
knowledge collaborating on best practice we
can support each other through these transitions so
don't think you have to go it alone you know there's obviously
(10:30):
if you're a freelance ecologist you know it may seem a
lot harder for you but you know you've probably got
your own networks you go out there those i say those community
forums we can reach out to but you know there's always
someone you can actually discuss things with you know
and doesn't mean that they're right doesn't mean
you're wrong you know everyone else will have a different opinion
so guidelines are especially that you know it is a guidance on a particular
(10:54):
approach you may have a different interpretation of these guidelines and how
to implement them so no one really you know there's there are you know right
approaches multiple approaches and They're multiple wrong approaches,
but it doesn't mean there's just one approach to take.
So engaging in forums, as I said, attending workshops and participating in webinars.
(11:16):
I mean, there's so many webinars out there, particularly for biodiversity net gain at the moment.
Take advantage of those, explore them, stay curious.
And, you know, I think these are excellent ways to stay connected and informed.
And finally, touched on one there, embracing a continuous learning sort of mindset.
(11:37):
You know, that curiosity. And we talk about curiosity a lot on this podcast
and just enabling that everything is a learning opportunity.
We may not know it all today.
Each day, we can incrementally increase our knowledge, increase our understanding,
and then gain that skill over time in order to help ourselves,
(11:59):
help our colleagues, and help our communities and our natural environments.
And as you're no doubt aware, the ecological field, it's dynamic at the moment.
It really is changing. So I think we do need to stay informed about the latest
research, the guidance, technologies.
It's all part of our job. And how to become that effective ecologist,
(12:22):
it's understanding that change is inevitable and we are part of that journey
and embracing it. You know, so, you know, I must admit, I'm probably guilty.
I do love a shiny new penny. So when something new comes along,
I probably do embrace it and rush into it.
And, you know, I've got to look at my own limitations, which is going too much
(12:43):
into it and thinking, oh, this is the best thing ever without fully exploring it, questioning it,
analysing the information coming in before adapting to it or adopting those new procedures.
Procedures so that's where the benefit of having
a fantastic team which I do work with are here
who can actually sense check things make sure there you know there is a bit
(13:04):
of friction there friction can be good to actually pull us back a bit to say
actually you know it looks like we should be going in this direction what are
the implications if we do you know what are the you know what are the benefits
and then what are the um the downsides of actually implementing this change.
So this might mean dedicating time each day, each week to reading,
(13:25):
listening to podcasts. Obviously, this one's a fantastic one.
Attending training sessions. I mean, we just released, just to give an example,
you know, we just released QFields for Ecologists on our Ecology Academy platform
there, which has been a great uptake on that. It's been needed, required.
So this is tapping into using digital transformation, digital transformation,
(13:46):
adopting new technologies out in the field rather than a pen and paper.
Collecting the information out in the field, putting that together and then
using it to then transform the information back into the office environment, shall we say.
But there are technologies there to link those devices together.
I mean, not just Qfield. I say Qfield is out now, you know, to look at.
(14:09):
But, you know, it's keeping up with the latest, say, information,
the training sessions, even enrolling in those courses and that delve into the
specifics of new regulations and also survey techniques.
So there you go. That's a little bit about mindset for managing the change.
But of course, that's just an overview.
Those are just words. You know, you've got to implement them yourselves.
(14:33):
So let's look about the practical strategies for adapting to change.
So as we mentioned before, in this dynamic field of ecology,
it requires not just a positive mindset but also
actionable strategies you know if
we're going to achieve something we need to do something so whether
it's updating you know methods for bat surveys the way
(14:54):
we undertake them adapting to new mitigation guidelines understanding what works
what may not work and and questioning those it's in you know you know in a process
of curiosity or implementing the biodiversity net gain assessments the different
metrics there you you know, the different reporting required.
(15:15):
How can we stay ahead of that curve? Well, prioritization is going to be part of that.
So with a sheer volume of updates and new information available,
knowing where to focus our attention is going to be crucial.
So I think, I mean, this is just me. I mean, I'm just giving you my insights here.
But I think we need to start by identifying the changes that most directly impact
(15:37):
our current areas of expertise. You know, the current areas we prioritise in
and that really can help actually make a benefit.
So if you undertake BAT surveys, for instance, maybe you're going to want to
start looking at the BAT mitigation and BAT survey guidelines, reading the guidance.
I mean, it sounds really simple. Strategy is read the guidance.
(15:58):
OK, that's a great way to start. next is
certainly then discuss the guidance with maybe a
colleague engage on social media you know
in those those those wonderful sort of rabbit holes
that people go down in as well so uh you know exploring different
avenues and but but be aware that there is always going to be that critic that
(16:20):
there who may have going back to the mindset maybe a little bit of a fixed mindset
these are rubbish i don't see why we need to change they were perfectly good
before i don't don't agree with this person, you know, it's take this chapter,
I think we should have gone further, you know, it doesn't go far enough.
You know, all these are, you know, valid arguments, valid points.
But they will end in sort of that pit of despair, doesn't push you forward.
(16:44):
So I think questioning things, yes, understanding them, maybe going,
actually, you know, how can we implement these changes into my own working practices?
And that's it, reading, reading understanding understanding talking
to people and i think that is and and re-evaluating your position i think those
are going to be important parts of the you know prioritization you know so starting
(17:07):
with let's say if you're into bats you know start with a you know reading that
guide and obviously with biodiversity again if you want to be specialized in that area.
Understanding the or the guidance that's coming out
the the the viewpoints of other
stakeholders so whether you be a landowner a
developer the local planning authority whether you
(17:28):
be a broker whether you be in the ecologist you know
what does actually mean to you know how you go about communicating with these
different stakeholders landscape architects you know you may not have worked
with them you know in such an intense way as you may have to on with with the
binarist net net gain implementations so you know it's looking at where can we make that most impact,
(17:51):
i say also areas to
look at in terms of gaining your knowledge using trusted sources such as official
websites official organizations and associations peer-reviewed journals for
instance gathering that accurate information and sharing it setting up but you
can even set up alerts i I mean, I've done this with,
(18:12):
you know, Google Alerts, you know, setting up an alert when something changes,
I get a notification of that change.
Obviously, on the government websites, you can set those as well.
Then LinkedIn is amazing.
I mean, if you go on LinkedIn daily, you know, you'll see all these things pop
up. And, you know, I'm just talking about now, this is a little side.
Obviously, Planning Policy Wales is just in Edition 12, I think it is,
(18:35):
has just come into effect.
So I've got to read those guidelines, you know, sorry, the Planning Policy there.
And what does that mean to, you know, previous iterations?
And do we need to change our reports and advise our clients differently, so forth?
Biodiversity and so it's setting up those
alerts keeping it up to date with that information themselves
also implementing the new
(18:58):
guidance that's going to be part of your strategy so how
do you implement it you've discussed it you've talked
with colleagues you're going to approach okay have we
got the right resources in terms of time capability capacity
to once you deliver these new services or
changes to these these guidance for instance so you
know bats have of the guidance the use use of night vision
(19:20):
aids for some instance do we have that can
we get the equipment is it right equipment these are all decisions
that may need to may be made if you're again you
know if you're a freelance scholar there's obviously information out there to
get it helps you if you're a part of a team to actually
discuss these things and test them don't think
you're gonna have to you're gonna get perfect straight away i think
(19:41):
there is some mileage privilege within
the phrase you know perfect is the
enemy of good you know it doesn't mean we shouldn't aim for perfection but
um you know but i think um if you're a perfectionist it
can be overwhelming in terms of oh i've got to get the right equipment if
i don't get the right equipment it's going to be a waste of time it's going
to be a waste of money that may happen but things do change again it's this
(20:03):
change management ensuring that and we're on top of our game at a certain point
and understanding you know if we did make a mistake or an error it's learning
from that so So it is always a learning opportunity.
So I think in terms of implementing the guidance, once you've identified the
key changes, the challenges, integrate them into our existing workflows.
(20:26):
So it's going out and trying it. So the new guidance came out,
the survey guidance for instance came out late last year.
This is going to be the first season we're going to implement it.
Let's see how it goes. It's a test.
So just treat it as an experiment. You know, we are scientists as ecologists.
Let's use this as an experiment and, you know, get the most out of it.
And it will inform the next round. You know, maybe by the end of May,
(20:50):
beginning of June, we can understand, do you know what?
Actually, we're going to have to start charging our clients more because we're
doing X, Y, Z instead of what we did before.
You know, there's an extra criteria. Or you may be even charging less because
you can adapt new technologies into your survey methodology.
For instance, the use of drones.
(21:11):
I'd say there's night vision aids if we can do other surveys themselves.
Just to give a bit about AI, we use Copilot within some of our reporting to
help us understand and summarize part of our reports.
It doesn't write them for us. Don't get me wrong. You know, we're not at that
stage when they're writing our reports for us, but it does help us in terms
(21:34):
of the quality assurance aspects and also summarization of different reports. So leaning into that.
So, again, it might mean revisiting or revising data collection methods,
updating your report templates or, as I said, adopting new software tools.
You start by outlining the specific steps you need to comply with the new guidelines.
(21:55):
Guidelines i would say compliance with a loose term there
remember they are guidance you know but you know local authorities
local planning authorities will be looking that you are going to implement these
and they'll be looking at justifications for you falling
going outside of this guidance so look at the new guidance how you're going
to comply with it how are you going to convey that to your reader or readers
(22:17):
as we know to ensure that it gets through your the the planning and serve the
purpose that it's intended to do for our clients.
You're going to create a timeline for incorporating these perhaps into your practice.
So for instance, we're going for at the moment, changing our project management software.
Or update and get ready. So, you know, we use software called Workflow Max.
(22:40):
There are many of us out there.
Workflow Max and Workflow Max, you know, it's one of these things that,
you know, you see a lot of people, oh, it's going to be sunset,
and it's going to be retired at the end of June.
And that's correct in terms of, you know, who it's being currently hosted with, with Xero Company.
But it's going to be taken on by a different company. So we've got to look at,
okay, do we want that new product, new software?
(23:03):
If not, where else do we go to look look, where do we go to look for our project management software?
But, you know, we've gone along the journey. We've seen what's going to be happening
in the new version. I think it's going to be a greater project improvement.
But we need a timeline to set in terms of migration across to the new platform.
Looking at the training in terms of maybe some key champions of this new platform.
(23:28):
Then it's the indication of the then the next
method is then to train everyone else
on that platform itself and then go
for the changes and the snagging you know i mean there's gonna be a
few different changes and again to it and it may be
some issues so it's understanding that it's not gonna be
perfect straight away as long as people you know
understand that changes to anything we do
(23:50):
any methodology is going to have a sort of
a built-in learning experience feedback and
in view is extremely important before we actually
go too far down the road when actually it's going
to take a lot more effort to you know restart something
again so you know making sure we've got a right timeline we've got a plan for
action implementation into into your practices and it can help to you know as
(24:16):
i say to pilot these changes on a smaller project before rona gets out to maybe
to all your staff or to every single client of yours.
Now, we talk about clients. Advising our clients is another critical aspect of this.
Okay, with the new regulations and guidance in play, our clients rely on us
for accurate and up-to-date advice.
(24:38):
That's what our role is as consultants. We advise.
So when communicating changes, clarity is going to be key.
So we need to be prepared to to explain not only what the changes are,
but also how they impact the client's project, both in terms of outcomes and timelines.
So, you know, is this going to delay the project? Is it going to bring the project forward?
(25:01):
Are there going to be, you know, additional requirements on them in terms of
documentation or additional services that we're going to have to require to actually implement?
And it's communicating that effectively to them at the right time.
And again, don't worry, you know, you know, ideally you want to get it all right
in the right order. But sometimes, you know, we're still learning.
(25:22):
Hopefully there's a little bit of lean and see from your clients in such a period
of, you know, immense change that.
You know, just advising your clients, look, this is coming in,
being honest with them, you know, we know this much, but their things may change as people go along.
You know, the local playing golf varieties will certainly be,
you know, it's going to be an enormous amount of change for them going through,
(25:46):
you know, all these different guidance changes and in England with Biodiversity Net Game, for instance.
So they're going to have to, you know, catch up as well and understand that,
you know, what it actually means.
There's policy changes, legislation changes it's
all have an impact we will have to work alongside them to
understand it so don't think you know that's what
(26:08):
it'd be about managing our client's expectations we're all
in a learning journey here on a learning journey so emphasize the positive aspects
of why things how it can how it should be improved the environmental impacts
and compliance benefits and remember managing expectations is going to be crucial
so we've got to be realistic about the the challenges and the potential for
(26:29):
delays and additional costs.
It's about being honest to ourselves and to others.
It's not trying to mask, I'm the expert in part of this net gain.
I'm the expert in these new guidance.
Don't worry, what they're saying is wrong.
No, we may get things wrong ourselves and it's understanding that and it's being considerate,
(26:51):
having that honesty with ourselves that we will get some things wrong as we go along. this journey.
Okay. And I suppose finally, you know, we touched upon this,
I suppose he's looking at, well, okay, what advice, what support is there out
there for us? And mentioned about, you know.
(27:11):
Podcasts, there's the guidance notes themselves, the booklets,
there's the websites to go on, the professional websites.
It's keeping up to date with that, attending these courses, Qfield's open,
to help stay informed about the changes and improve our skills.
So it's a lot to take in. It can be quite overwhelming.
Hopefully that's helped in terms of about navigating change and adopting to
(27:35):
these new ecological guidelines.
Guidelines i really do advocate you know
seeking out support now that may be support
for your colleagues maybe support through you know
you know social media for instance but i
think we as humans you know we really do crave that connection and
where where you get it is going to be you know it's going to be it's going
(27:55):
to be crucial so i really do advocate for you
know a collaborative approach getting advice
getting a buddy out there mentoring coaching services
i think it all really does help and we all need
support throughout our journey you know
no one should be you know it should be
feel that they need to be isolated from what we do
(28:17):
and what we do as ecologists because if we want
to achieve our outcomes you know our own you know
and live up to our own values we need to address our
own limiting beliefs whatever they may be recognize them
you know some of them may not go away them or
may always be there but it's looking at that how do we manage those expectations
(28:38):
how do you manage our little inner critics and so forth which do pop up from
time to time and having a coach really does help that explores that gives you
techniques and tips on how to control, how to manage it.
But the good thing about coaching is that mentoring, you know,
if you want to learn a new skill, get up to speed and bring up your expertise.
(29:00):
Mentoring is great and it serves a purpose. Coaching is sort of.
Bringing it out in you you probably have the
answers already but it's just exploring that making
sure that you know you can bring it out to yourself and
as i say you know you probably have the better
solutions than maybe another person does so a
(29:21):
good coach will help you bring that out so i'm going
to stop waffling now hope that's been useful for this
month about navigating change now i'm
going to leave you with this in the next few months we're going
to be exploring exploring great crested newt licensing licensing
they're going to be talking to different individuals about
(29:41):
their licensing experiences what they do in terms of field work and also you
know obtaining different licenses you know whether they've been england and
wales i'm trying to get some for scotland but you know it's going to be a little
bit challenging at the moment we're going to be looking at different licensing
schemes the district licenses scheme such as So through Natural England,
through Natural Resources Wales, and also through Nature Space.
(30:04):
So that's something to look forward to. Probably won't come until April,
but just to say that that's what I'm doing now, being open and honest about
what I'm actually looking at.
Now, if you want to get involved, if you want to suggest a topic or a theme
that we should be talking about on the Ecology Academy podcast, please do get in touch.
Contact me at hello at ecologyacademy.co.uk and leave a message there,
(30:27):
which we can pick up. I will repeat that we are looking for co-hosts.
I'm sure you can. If you can do a better job than me and stop waffling on,
as I'm doing now, and have some benefit, you want to learn a new skill.
So I really am looking for some podcast hosts and co-hosts to actually take this podcast forward.
(30:50):
If that's you, again, hello at ecologyacademy.co.uk and say the reasons why,
what you can help with. OK, well, that's all for now.
But thank you again for listening to me, Richard Dodd, on the Ecology Academy podcast.
(31:26):
Learning is a lifelong endeavour, so stay curious.
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