I have always believed in leading with equal parts passion and purpose, and a big part of this is looking at how you support the communities in which your business operates. Doing this adequately can also be effective from an employee engagement perspective.
These are a few recommendations for organisations looking to introduce a strategic and engaging Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program.
Examine your values
The powerful CSR platforms the team will get behind should continuously ladder up to your corporate mission and vision. Ensuring yours does, provides an opportunity to remind everyone in your organisation of what you stand for while supporting the communities you operate in. These are a few examples to illustrate this point. If you work in real estate and development, it might make sense to support a cause tied to accessible housing. If you manufacture diapers, maternal and child healthcare could make sense. If you manufacture sustainable products, an environmental charity is likely the most appropriate choice. The perfect fit will vary tremendously based on the nature of your organisation, making it essential to put in the time to ensure proper alignment.
Involve the team
I’ve had many positive experiences asking the team what causes they care about and how they would like to give back to the community. Asking for initial input and feedback will help ensure the team is invested and interested in contributing to positive outcomes. It will also instil confidence in the type of workplace they feel part of.
Report on results
Effective CSR platforms must be consistent to be effective from both internal communication and impact perspectives. Your team will probably stay committed to giving back if they receive frequent updates on funds raised or how their organisation’s efforts contribute to monumental outcomes.
Giving back is an integral part of all business. I encourage you to take the time to consider how you can make this part of your organisation’s ethos, onboarding and employee experience.
