How helping your community can help your business.

One of my personal passions is volunteering and giving back to my community. As a business owner it is sometimes difficult to find time to eat, sleep and breath, so volunteer work can become distant memory. Instead of looking at social responsibility as another extracurricular activity that I could hardly make time for, I began looking at it as my corporate social responsibility (CSR) – a real responsibility as a business owner. Once I made CSR a part of my business plan, I began finding ways to incorporate helping my community into my work.

The Harvard Kennedy School defines CSR in the following way:
Corporate social responsibility encompasses not only what companies do with their profits, but also how they make them. It goes beyond philanthropy and compliance and addresses how companies manage their economic, social, and environmental impacts, as well as their relationships in all key spheres of influence: the workplace, the marketplace, the supply chain, the community, and the public policy realm.

In my mind, my responsibility as a business owner is to conduct my business ethically and to give back to our communities. However, giving back doesn’t only encompass monetary donations. Businesses should look within themselves to discover what they have that can help those in need. Lets take a look at the spheres of influence mentioned above and see how businesses can be impacted by business.

The Workplace
CSR in the workplace can be as simple as offering employees fair wages and ensuring they have benefits. It is understanding employees outside of their positions within your company, and being flexible when appropriate. One benefit that I offer my staff is the option of taking one week a year of paid time to volunteer within the community. This type of benefit heightens moral and gives our company the opportunity to be visible to others. Quality employees consider a company’s position in the community when looking for a job, so to hire and retain the right people you need to make sure you are doing the right things.

The Marketplace
When your company is competing for its place in the market, it is important to remember to do so in a fair way. Underhanded techniques undermine your business. Look for ways to work with colleagues that can benefit your business, their business and the constituencies that you serve. (See my post on Strategic Partnerships to get ideas on how to work with the competition).

The Supply Chain
When selecting vendors look for companies who hold themselves to the same standards as you. Be picky about who you select. When possible, use vendors who are environmentally and socially aware. This is something that you can share with your customers, so they know your company’s commitment to its causes.

The Community
As a service provider, I have developed my business plan to include teaching my clients about the benefits of community involvement and tailoring my services to provide my clients with an outlet to give back. For those of you who sell products, ask yourself if there is a community that could use what you have to offer? Are there extra materials that could be donated or recycled? Reaching out to your community will give those within your company a sense of accomplishment and pride. It will also provide a way to heighten visibility and gain the respect of others.

The Public Policy Realm
This can be as simple as getting out to vote for the candidate that you feel serves your community’s best interests. Stay educated and involved with local government; their decisions directly impact your way of doing business and the people who live and work in the area you serve. Also, be active in your chamber of commerce; it is a great way to connect with other business owners and get an idea of the things that impact your city. Don’t just be a leader in your office; take on causing change for others who cannot cause it for themselves.

Businesses have always played an integral part in the fabric of our society. Don’t just be an individual who stands for change. Empower the people around you and work together to have a bigger impact in the world.

How has your company impacted the world? How did this work end up impacting your company?