[ 493 words ]
Is social responsibility a time-sink best avoided by the serious businessperson?
No. Social responsibility is an opportunity to learn, connect, and create value for both investors and society. Even when you’re exhausted by other tasks, social responsibility can be a worthwhile focus.
I understand feeling overwhelmed. Last night, I slumped onto the sofa and asked my wife, “Why do we have kids?”
My middle son, Rayden, woke me at 5 AM with “Daddy, I dreamed I was going to the bathroom, and my bed’s now wet.” Then my youngest, Reuben, called me “stupid” . . . three times. And my eldest, Devin, was too busy for chores. Combined with work’s stresses, I feel overrun.
My wife smiles and a gleam enters her eye. “We have kids because we didn’t know any better,” she laughs. But then we each silently begin thinking about our full life: kids view the world with fresh eyes, and re-experiencing that perspective enriches the rest of our days. And when we’re old, family will be our sweetest memory.
Many business leaders think they “know better” than to focus on social responsibility. A large dairy cooperative hasn’t updated their social responsibility website since 2016. A real estate company’s social responsibility report boasts about the “vegan wine” they serve prospective clients. And too many organizations highlight their “scaling up” of efforts for society– which is frequently code for “throw money at a problem so people think you care.” I get it; professionals are overwhelmed even without social responsibility.
But social responsibility is more than ‘taking care of society.’ It’s meaningfully bonding and collaborating with people who will be your clients, employees, and influencers. It’s obtaining insight into what’s happening today and the social currents that will deliver tomorrow. And it’s uncovering new tools and opportunities to see your industry and its profit-creating opportunities in a new light.
So don’t shrink from the social problems that surround you. Don’t hire a wordsmith to add glamour to a meaningless social responsibility report. Conduct a strategic review of your responsible opportunities and plan them wisely, ensuring they create material value for society and you. Because when you deliver that meaningful profit, you will be doing so for yourself and for our children.
Is it possible that ignored areas of your life could deliver more value than you currently recognize?
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.