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Should you be evil? Or, should you take social responsibility to heart?
I ask my son a related question. “Will you behave now?”
I’m floored by the truth, “No, Dad. I won’t be good even if it means I miss dessert.”
I understand my son’s feeling mischievous, but I don’t expect him to tell me his plan to misbehave.
As adults, we don’t have the same choice. I mean, what if you openly admit you don’t take corporate social responsibility seriously?
Every business organization, however, does have another choice. Will you pursue meaningful profit rather than greenwashing (just going through socially responsible motions)?
That decision should be tough. You weren’t born a conscious capitalist, who enhances value for all stakeholders. Your competitive strength may depend on customers’ unhealthful choices, the low cost of sweatshop labor, or you may simply hope your key Angolan supplier limits bribes.
So take the time you need. Run the numbers. Debate internally.
And consider adding a bit of help. Clients bring me in to challenge their maverick thinkers to develop socially responsible tools and insights. Your team can rapidly outline solutions you’ve never considered: pragmatic, value-enhancing, and socially aware.
When you bring your business plan for approval, your career is on the line. When a little girl with a bright blue dress smiles at you in the park, your heart is at risk. Your leadership should honour both.
As we increase the complexity of our world with digital technology, social outcomes seem to careen out of control. Isn’t it worth a bit of help to seriously consider integrating social responsibility into your business, to maximize profit and purpose?
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.