What are the most effective ways to align short-term and long-term goals for CSR?

1 Define your vision and values

The first step to align your short-term and long-term goals for CSR is to define your vision and values as a business. What is your purpose, mission and core principles? How do they relate to the needs and expectations of your stakeholders, such as customers, employees, suppliers, communities and the planet? Your vision and values should guide your decisions and actions in the short-term, as well as inspire your long-term aspirations.

2 Set SMART objectives and indicators

The second step to align your short-term and long-term goals for CSR is to set SMART objectives and indicators. SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. Your objectives should be clear, realistic, meaningful and linked to your vision and values. Your indicators should help you monitor and evaluate your progress and performance in the short-term, as well as track your impact and outcomes in the long-term.

3 Engage your stakeholders and partners

The third step to align your short-term and long-term goals for CSR is to engage your stakeholders and partners. Stakeholders are those who affect or are affected by your business activities, such as customers, employees, suppliers, communities and the planet. Partners are those who can help you achieve your goals, such as NGOs, governments, academia and media. You should communicate with your stakeholders and partners regularly, listen to their feedback, involve them in your decision-making and collaborate with them on your initiatives.

4 Integrate CSR into your operations and culture

The fourth step to align your short-term and long-term goals for CSR is to integrate CSR into your operations and culture. Operations are the processes, systems and practices that you use to run your business, such as production, marketing, finance and human resources. Culture is the shared beliefs, values and behaviors that shape your business identity, such as leadership, ethics and innovation. You should embed CSR into your operations and culture, so that it becomes part of your daily routine and strategic direction.

5 Innovate and adapt to changing contexts

The fifth step to align your short-term and long-term goals for CSR is to innovate and adapt to changing contexts. Contexts are the external factors that influence your business environment, such as markets, regulations, technologies and trends. You should anticipate and respond to the opportunities and challenges that arise from changing contexts, by creating new solutions, improving your practices and learning from your experiences.

6 Report and communicate your results and impacts

The sixth step to align your short-term and long-term goals for CSR is to report and communicate your results and impacts. Results are the outputs and outcomes that you achieve from your CSR activities, such as products, services, revenues and benefits. Impacts are the effects that you have on your stakeholders and the planet, such as satisfaction, loyalty, reputation and sustainability. You should report and communicate your results and impacts transparently, honestly and regularly, to demonstrate your accountability, credibility and value.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?