It’s the question that sits behind almost every conversation we have with sustainability leaders. Not whether to act, but why, despite years of effort and genuine commitment, progress keeps hitting the same invisible walls. The answer, it turns out, is rarely one thing. It’s a set of interconnected fault lines, and they show up differently depending on the organisation, the context and the moment.

That’s exactly why we created The Principles of Doing the Impossible, a guide built on conversations with some of the world’s most experienced sustainability leaders. And now, to help you get the most out of it, we’ve built a free diagnostic tool to go alongside it.

What the diagnostic does

The diagnostic is a short, focused assessment designed to help you identify which of the nine principles are most relevant to where you are right now. Because even though all nine principles matter, not all of them will be equally urgent for you at this moment. Some CSOs are struggling with internal credibility and influence. Others have strong internal buy-in but keep losing momentum at the implementation stage. Others still have a clear strategy but a team so stretched across competing demands that real progress has become elusive. The diagnostic cuts through the noise and points you toward the principles that will move the needle most for your specific situation.

How it works

It takes around five minutes to complete. Answer honestly, and at the end you’ll get a personalised read on where your strategy is strongest and where the fault lines are most likely to appear. Think of it as a sense check: a way to step back from the day-to-day and see your situation a little more clearly.

Who it’s for

The diagnostic is designed for Chief Sustainability Officers and senior sustainability leaders who are working on, or about to begin, a significant phase of strategy development or delivery.

It’s particularly useful if you’re:

• Refreshing or rebuilding your sustainability strategy
• Struggling to convert internal support into genuine action
• Feeling the pressure of a shrinking mandate or tightening resources
• Trying to work out where to focus a team that’s spread too thin

Take the diagnostic

Ready to find out which principles matter most for you right now?

Take the free diagnostic at thenowwork.scoreapp.com →

Once you’ve got your results, download The Principles of Doing the Impossible to go deeper on the principles most relevant to your situation, with practical exercises and action starters to help you put the insights to work.

Download the guide →