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personal Involvement is the Fifth of the Seven Competences of the Sustainably Competent Professional: it's the 'I' in RESFIA+D.
> For the numbered notes, such as (1), see below.
> Download RESFIA+D, including this page, as a set of spreadsheets in English, German or Dutch: see RESFIA+D: The introduction.
personal Involvement: A sustainably competent professional is personally committed to sustainability.
Level 3: Apply | Level 4: Integrate | Level 5: Improve | Level 6: Innovate |
I1. Consistently involve sustainable development in their own work as a professional: sustainable attitude
> You describe the concept ‘sustainable development’, and you relate it to your own activities and your working environment. > In practical situations related to your work, you name causes of unsustainability. | > You involve sustainability considerations consciously and demonstrably in your professional activities and decisions and in those of the teams or the organization you belong to. | > You use sustainability considerations consistently for the improvement of the work, the goals and the use of facilities and methods of you and of the organization you are a part of. > Thus you demonstrate that, through your work, you contribute siginificantly to sustainable development. | > You are an expert in relation to sustainable development within your discipline and/or line of business, and you show this by means of research, publications and/or public presentations. > You contribute to the renewal of insights and methods within your organization, discipline and line of business, based on sustainability considerations. |
I2. Passionately work towards dreams and ideals
> You describe the wishes, dreams and ideals you have regarding the work that you do and the results and effects of it. > There is a clear relationship between these wishes, dreams and ideals and aspects of sustainable development, and you put this relationship into words. > You openly express your dreams and ideals within your direct working environment. | > You relate demonstrably your professional dreams and ideals to the formulation of the goals and the implementation of your work. > You balance your dreams and ideals concerning your professional activities with those of your private life. | > With your dreams and ideals you inspire others in your working environment. > In doing so, you exert a noticeably positive influence on the work and on its results and effects of you and of the teams you are a part of. | > Your dreams and ideals lead to original, innovative ideas and projects related to your professional activities, your working environment, your discipline or your line of business. > With your passion for your dreams and ideals you express an inspiring leadership (1) to a team or organization you are a part of. |
I3. Employ their own conscience as the ultimate yardstick
> You investigate the goals, methods, tasks and assignments of your professional activities based on your own values and ethical standards. > You express the conclusions of this investigation for yourself. | > You discuss these conclusions with other stakeholders in your direct professional environment (2). > If, based on the results, you find it necessary, you discuss with them changes in the professional activities of you and of the teams you are a part of. | > Goals, assignments or activities that are in conflict with your consciousness, are either not accepted or performed by you, or you adapt them, wherever possible in good consultation, until they agree with your consciousness. (3) > You remain firm in your decisions, and you formulate them in an assertive but not aggressive way. Although you are open to reasonable arguments of others, you are not susceptible to pressure of them. | > While choosing activities, education programs, jobs or career planning, you consistently and in advance take into consideration what is accessible and desirable according to your ethical standards. (4) > In the goal definition, planning, implementation and evaluation of your work you exhibit exemplary behavior and leadership thanks to your openly conscious approach. |
1. Leadership: either formal leadership, based on an organizational position as a manager, lecturer, coach or administrator, or informal leadership.
2. E.g. colleagues, manager, customers or clients, lecturers, students.
3. Think e.g. of activities existing of, or causing: discrimination, exploitation, slavery, climate damage, damage to nature, pollution, animal suffering, problem transfer, criminality, bribery, infringement of human dignity, health damage, damage to cultural heritage, violence, war, unsafety.
4. For this, you can make a pledge to yourself or to others, comparable to the Hippocratic Oath that medical graduates pledge. An example of such a pledge is shown in ‘Fundamentals of Sustainable Development’ (Roorda, 2025: 4th edition), in the final section.