4.1. Overcoming challenges

In a nutshell

Identify the barriers to getting things done.
Work out how to overcome them.
Stand your ground to make progress.

Keep your action plan on hand

Action plans should be living, breathing, dynamic documents; evolving statements that records your regenerative tourism journey. Use our template to get started and keep it updated.

Make sure to bring your action plan out regularly at team meetings to show the progress being made. There’s no point in typing up huge lists of things to be done if it’s going to languish somewhere in a drawer and never happen.

Find and address resistance

In the same way that 'all talk, no action' can result in nothing happening, resistance and barriers may also keep you from getting things done. Identifying and overcoming these challenges requires a large dose of pragmatism.

The vital first step is to identify where the resistance is coming from.

Once you understand the nature of the challenge, you can set about finding a solution. It won’t always be easy but it is necessary. After all, the only way to deal with a problem is to address it.

And in many cases, once a challenge is identified and named, you’re halfway to overcoming it.

Here’s a format that can help you start identifying what might hold you back.

Photo by: VisitBritain/VisitEngland