3 Simple Steps For Corporate Social Responsibility

By Sebastian Troup


Sometimes the task of setting up a new corporate social responsibility program can seem quite difficult. However, it can also be great if one can break down the process into some steps based on general best practices and what other companies have done and succeeded.

It is a good idea to break down the hard task of corporate social responsibility into sections or parts that are easily manageable. This helps you set goals, maintain the program and measure its success.

Step 1: Conceive and Initiate

A corporate social responsibility program is never one-size-fits-all. While crafting a program, it is important to keep the Three Pillars of Sustainability in the forefront: People, Planet and Profit. Create opportunities and multiple ways for employees and other stakeholders to engage with the program. Incorporate opportunities across a wide spectrum of engagement that include volunteer days, traditional giving, recycling events, peer to peer fundraising, and disaster assistance.

Include "cause marketing" into the program, and this will take it even a step further. Have opportunities to start commitments within the supply chain and also production process, and this can be through including the company's products in the program. How to engage company employees and others in management to make a socially responsible and environmentally considerate investment are those to be considered, to make it sensible for the company.

Step 2: Implement & Commit

After the idea and all details in the CSR program are determined, it is for you to make it believable in terms of the triple bottom line results for the company. This will need to be done through assessment and the measurement of the program's impact. You need to create a link for your social responsibility program to connect with the company's final business result.

How does your cause driven program impact your company's sales, customer satisfaction, employee and brand loyalty, and market access? Prove that your program positively impacts the company reputation and the overall profitability. Track, measure, and communicate the impact that your program is making on the social, environmental, and economic factors.

Step 3: Encouragement, Feedback & Communication

Endorsement and acceptance from the top level management have to be acquired, and this is essential for a corporate program to succeed. This is no different from the other programs also. The need for the top management to be informed is crucial, thus the results and successes of the program have to be communicated to them. The program's effects on the company's triple bottom line have to be communicated to them, and this should be on a regular basis, informing them of the program's progress and also other undertakings.

Convince leadership to inspire employees and other stakeholders to make "cause" a priority, and encourage employees to participate and get each other involved. Track and share program outcomes and impact with employees, customers, community members, and program beneficiaries to build program recognition, loyalty, and momentum. The success of the program is all about inspiration and participation.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment