(344 words)
Why is ‘hands-on’ key to creating value for you through social responsibility?
My oldest son, Devin, experienced the power of hands-on recently. Tourist activities highlight plans for Devin’s trip to visit Gramma in Malaysia: eat dragon fruit, visit orangutans, and scuba dive in coral reefs.
All the tourist activities are accomplished. Check!
Yet the greatest value is in the unplanned interaction Devin gets just being there. After a day at a Malaysian school, Devin views his American school with fresh eyes. Two meetings with rainforest professors broadens Devin’s understanding of what engineering can mean. And a picture full of smiles illustrates how broadly the concept of family can apply.
Many companies focus social responsibility on ‘arms-length’ interaction: donate money, product, or run a race. Value and awareness are delivered. Older workers may be introduced to activities they continue into retirement. Yet, such arms-length interaction misses out on creating key value.
Social responsibility can also drive innovation. Allow yourself to travel roads you didn’t even know existed. Share a new perspective on your industry that you tend to look at from the same angle every day. Or consider the unique insights into the currents and technologies that will shape tomorrow based on what’s happening today and what occurred yesterday.
As you lead socially responsible efforts, don’t limit yourself to sterile strategies. Search out approaches that leave you uncomfortable and that bring about distinctive collaboration. Recognize the value of new experience and the resulting insights will enhance the value you create for both society and your investors.
When was the last time you felt uncomfortable in an experience? In hindsight, did you gain valuable perspective and skills?
Please share your thoughts in the comments or by sending me an email: info@RodWallacePhD.Com.
Our society cannot just survive. For the sake of our children, it must thrive.
Rod
Dr. Rod Wallace is an economist, consultant, and speaker who helps businesses make more money by solving society’s problems. A Fulbright Fellow, he has led multi-organization billion-dollar initiatives worldwide and partnered with a Silicon Valley pioneer to explore the impact of Artificial Intelligence on society.
Rod speaks about how to integrate social responsibility into business to maximize profit and purpose. He highlights digital technology’s impact on society and the strategies and tools with which business can solve our big, systemic problems.
Contact Rod at info@RodWallacePhD.com.