Stop Giving Back
Hiroshi Mikitani, president of Rakuten Inc., poses during an event for employees to encourage 'Super Cool Biz' fashion as a power saving measure, in Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday, July 20, 2011
If you look at the annual reports of many large companies, you will see the section in which the firm talks about how it “gives back” to the community. This is often a recitation of financial contributions. And that is admirable and should continue. But at the same time, business must recognize that its participation in the community is more than just money. Business has more to give. How?
We can demonstrate best practices. In the stadium in which our baseball team - The Rakuten Eagles - play, we are constantly on the lookout for new ways to spotlight sustainability practices. As an example, we developed new takeout containers provided by food and beverage vendors to reduce waste.
We can advocate for change. When I was asked to be president of the Tokyo Philharmonic, I was hesitant at first. My musical experience consisted primarily of Karaoke. But I vowed to do my best for the organization. One of the areas I am looking at now is the way in which the Philharmonic hires and retains musicians. The system is a very old and traditional contract arrangement. Is this the best way to proceed? Does this attract the best and the brightest musicians to our institution? Would a change in contract and recruiting procedures bring a positive evolution to the music we all enjoy?
We can inspire. After the earthquake and tsunami of 2011, The Rakuten Eagles could not play in their regular stadium because it sustained damage. So they traveled to another stadium, and many fans traveled with them. The team wore special patches on their uniforms to honor and encourage the fans in a difficult time.
Business owners, when you come to the place in your annual report where you state how much you have “given back” to your community, ask yourself if you have given more than money. Ask yourself if you have given of your talents as a leader and as a visionary. Your business is not the only place where those talents are needed. The cultural institutions and the people who use them need those talents too.
Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg via Getty
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Digital Marketer | Entrepreneur | CEO & Founder | Life Coach | |HR| Certified NLP Practitioner, ABNLP Assoc
10 年Truly admirable. All your posts are really inspiring.
Entrepreneur
11 年Nice article thank you!
HR manager, Electronics&IT engineer
11 年nice article, but there are the question that arises by itself: What, in general, does one mean by "giving back"? It's actually much more than what was mentioned on the list in the article, that companies provide to the community. Compared to what they really "taking" from society, the right question would be why they are considered as they owe something to society and should - or should not "give it back"?
Having a passion
11 年Showing the best of our human side, by giving is better then receiving. In Auckland New Zealand we are fortunate to have a wonderful children hospital with accommodation unit for children and parents to stay, sometimes for a few days, weeks and even months. one of the most rewarding things to see happening is for staff of businesses including banks to take over the evening kitchen meals and serve parents, staff and children on a regular basis. It's people giving of themselves rather then just money.