In many aspects of our lives we remain separated by physical distance. But there’s little doubt that the world has come together in different ways throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Colleagues, communities and brands have rallied around causes. Our sense of connection and purpose has taken on renewed importance.
But in activating community initiatives and promoting just causes, how do you strike the right balance and match well-meaning intent with meaningful and considered action?
Tied specifically to business, the corporate world has opened its eyes and ears as deafening calls for change have reached beyond fringe movements. Perhaps the most relevant recent example is the groundswell of ongoing activity being driven by Black Lives Matter, following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
That is an extreme case and one that’s rightly received global attention and amplification. It’s also raised important questions of society and business, in so far as how we create more equal, diverse and non-discriminatory communities.
Whatever the cause you choose to support, it's vital your signals of intent are backed-up by meaningful action.
These were some of the thoughts circulating in my head as I watched and listened to a recent panel discussion hosted by Adam Gordon at Candidate ID.
His first guest, Jessica Wicks (Ross), discussed the very subject of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and how to get them right.
While her take focussed primarily on what recruitment businesses need to do, her thoughts resonate across a broader spectrum.
She said: “The first thing is to remember it should not be a box-ticking exercise. So many people will go through the motions, especially in recruitment. We’ll sponsor a charity event, write a cheque and pop our logo on everything and it’s job done.”
This really resonated with me and led to me putting together the actions below.
To drive effective initiatives, here are some of the key points to consider:
Get CSR support from your leadership. Your CEO and executive team need to act as the catalyst for change.
Is your business passionate about the causes it supports? Or perhaps you’re looking to give back but you’re not sure where to start. I’d love to get your thoughts on the above. Feel free to email william.geldart@bps-world.com or connect with me on LinkedIn.