How can you engage your employees and stakeholders in your CSR strategy and goals?

The sixth step to engaging your employees and stakeholders in your CSR strategy and goals is to evaluate your results and impact. Monitor and measure your CSR activities and outcomes, and compare them with your targets and benchmarks. Collect and analyze data and feedback from your employees, stakeholders, and beneficiaries, and use them to assess your strengths and weaknesses, and identify areas for improvement. Report and communicate your results and impact transparently and credibly, and demonstrate your accountability and commitment.

I work with Doing Good Works, a branded merchandising company that benefits and employs former foster youth. We have found that giving companies the opportunity to order purpose driven swag is an amazing model and opportunity to amplify CSR initiatives, effortlessly. Employees love knowing that their corporation purchases with social good in mind! Please reach out to me if I can assist in this regard!

Just like all good campaigns, start with a mission statement and have a great value proposition with proof points. These should connect to the higher business purpose of the overall organization. There are any number of tactics that can be used to engage employees but a consistent drumbeat is key, with opportunities for engagement along the way.

It's crucial to foster a culture of open communication and inclusion. Begin by clearly articulating the company's CSR vision and alignment with the broader organizational mission. Regularly share updates, success stories, and challenges using diverse platforms like town hall meetings, newsletters, and digital channels. Encourage feedback and create avenues for participation, such as volunteer opportunities, workshops, and brainstorming sessions. Recognize and celebrate contributions and milestones, making every individual feel invested in and vital to the CSR journey. Building a collaborative environment rooted in shared values cultivates genuine commitment and active participation.

For example, if your company decided to implement a recycling program, make sure to involve everyone in the process. When you hit a major goal, throw a party to celebrate! Make a cake from recycled ingredients, and gave each employee a heartfelt thank you for their contributions. Another example if you partner with a local non-profit to build community garden, invite the non-profit and their clients to a big picnic in the park with your employees! My advice to all business owners and managers out there is to never underestimate the power of celebration. It not only boosts morale and strengthens team bonds but also reinforces the importance of your CSR initiatives and the positive impact they have on the world.

One thing I've found helpful to growing employees' engagement with CSR goals is to work bottom-up. Meaning, get employees to select the causes that are meaningful to them. Then, make it easier for them to act by putting together an achievable action plan and very concrete tasks for employees to execute (e.g. mentor for 1-hr, volunteer for 1/2 day, join a planning meeting, post to promote on social media etc.). Finally, appreciation and recognition of employees' time and effort are key to keeping them engaged in the long term.

Share your journey and your vision for a more sustainable future. Inspire them to get involved and make a difference themselves. Social media is a powerful- share stories, photos, and videos about your CSR initiatives. Use hashtags to raise awareness and make it easy for them to share. Create a blog or a resource center on your website with articles, infographics, and other content that highlights your CSR initiatives and provides tips for them to make a difference in their own lives. Host events that educate customers on social impact. For example, you could host a sustainability fair with other local businesses. Help others connect with your initiatives by showing them how they can make a difference. Make it personal!

Work with your suppliers to source materials that are eco-friendly and socially responsible. Use innovative manufacturing processes that minimized waste and reduced energy consumption. Consider the best telecommuting policy for your employees. Consider switching to renewable energy sources to power their manufacturing facilities. Develop a closed-loop system for their product packaging. Implement a volunteer program for their employees. Collaborate with others, and push the boundaries of what's possible. Who knows, you might just discover a new way of doing business that not only benefits your bottom line but also makes the world a better place.

Here are a few specific ways you can measure your social impact: 1. Conduct a social impact assessment: You can use surveys, focus groups, and other data collection methods to gather feedback from stakeholders and determine whether your initiatives are achieving their intended goals. 2. Use Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): For example, you might track the number of volunteer hours completed by employees, the amount of carbon emissions reduced by your sustainable manufacturing practices, or the percentage of your supply chain that meets social and environmental standards. 3. Conduct third-party audits: These audits can provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of your initiatives and help you identify areas for improvement.