Corporate Social Responsibility Is More Than Just Charity — Here’s Why It’s Good for Business.

Here’s a reality that can’t be denied: The notion of corporate success is being radically reshaped. The financial bottom line is no longer seen as the sole measure of a company’s achievement. In today’s connected, hyper-transparent world, there’s a growing call on CEOs and leaders to create sustainable, measurable value for shareholders and society.

This shift in mindset has led to the emergence of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a significant factor in executive decision-making. CSR encompasses activities aimed at achieving social, environmental and economic benefits while encouraging ethical behavior. Executives who fail to integrate CSR into their decision-making fabric run the risk of alienating stakeholders, damaging their brands, and eroding their competitive positions.

Related: 3 Tips for Making Social Responsibility a Priority at Your Startup

What is corporate social responsibility?

Here’s a question: Who does your company truly serve, and how?

The answer to this question is at the core of CSR — and may be a bit eye-opening when you consider your own organization. It’s no longer enough for a company to focus solely on generating profits and shareholder value; they must also consider their actions’ social, environmental, and economic impacts.

Corporate responsibility encompasses the idea that companies have a duty to their stakeholders — including shareholders, customers, suppliers, employees and society — to operate ethically and transparently.

CSR encompasses various initiatives, each of which is anchored by four key tenants:

1. Ethical functioning: Upholding ethical standards across all business operations, ensuring stakeholder fairness, integrity and respect.
2. Social equity: Fostering social inclusivity and development via diversity programs, support for disadvantaged communities and human rights advocacy.
3. Environmental stewardship: Adopting sustainable practices to lessen the company’s environmental impact through waste reduction, carbon emission control and investment in green energy
4. Community engagement: Participating in community betterment through philanthropy, volunteering, and local event sponsorship, contributing to a company’s external social responsibility profile.

While being viewed as a socially responsible business is an excellent growth strategy, there’s more to it than just a good PR move. Here are four reasons why every leader should emphasize corporate social responsibility within their organization:

1. Attracting and retaining talent

Potential employees are looking beyond attractive salaries and traditional benefits. They’re interested in their company’s values, seeking employers who share their commitment to positively impacting society.

Recent studies show that three-quarters of millennials are looking into a potential workplace’s environmental commitments when in the market for a job. And once on board, employees proud of their company’s CSR commitments tend to have higher engagement and loyalty, reducing turnover rates and boosting productivity.

2. Building a positive corporate culture

CSR initiatives foster a positive corporate culture. Employees feel valued when companies commit to ethical practices, invest in their wellbeing and engage in initiatives for society.

When your internal team is united and inspired by the same values, a positive company culture radiates to external stakeholders — customers, suppliers, partners, etc. This can lead to increased trust in your brand and stronger relationships with all those involved.

3. Strengthening community relations

Companies don’t exist in a vacuum — they’re part of broader communities. By investing in CSR initiatives, you also invest in the health, welfare and prosperity of the community around you.

This mutually beneficial relationship with the community builds trust and goodwill between your organization and its stakeholders, inspiring a more potent connection while helping create economic opportunity in the region you serve.

4. Enhancing investor attraction

Here’s another reality: CSR is a growing investor concern. Demonstrating a commitment can attract more investment, improve stock performance and increase market value. Rather than viewing CSR as an expense, it’s more effective to think of it as an investment in your organization’s future.

Related: 5 Steps to Creating Socially Conscious Projects That Matter

Practical steps to develop and implement CSR strategy from the top

Developing and implementing a CSR strategy isn’t just a matter of well-intentioned ideas. It requires a structured approach, starting from the very top of the organization:

1. Align CSR with your company’s vision and values: Before diving into specific CSR initiatives, take a step back and look at your current values. Can you easily align your CSR strategy with your company’s vision, mission and values to create an authentic message?
2. Conduct a stakeholder analysis: Identify and analyze the needs and expectations of your key stakeholders, including employees, customers, investors and the community. This will help you identify the CSR areas that are most relevant to your business and stakeholders.
3. Set clear and measurable goals: Set clear, measurable goals for your CSR strategy, just like any other business initiative. Track progress, adjust and aim for targets like environmental impact, employee diversity or community contributions.
4. Create a CSR team: Appoint a dedicated team or CSR officer to drive your CSR strategy. They’ll coordinate activities, monitor progress and maintain stakeholder dialogue — with the resources and authority to execute effectively.
5. Communicate and engage: Keeping communication channels open is critical to ace CSR. Keep stakeholders informed about CSR goals, initiatives and how far you’ve come. Engage them by inviting employees to volunteer, consulting customers on sustainability and including investors in ethical business discussions.
6. Evaluate and adjust: Assess and adjust CSR strategy by soliciting stakeholder feedback and gauging impact. Continuous improvement is key to a successful, long-term commitment.

Guide your company into a CSR future

As a leader, developing and maintaining a corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy is crucial to propel your company’s success. The more you know about the ups and downs of CSR — including the challenges and opportunities — the better equipped you are to spearhead CSR initiatives.

The goal is to make a sustainable, long-term CSR strategy that lives up to your stakeholders’ expectations and delivers measurable results, now and in the future. Don’t take any risks that could hinder your corporate success – instead, improve your initial strategy, evaluate, and remain flexible.