6 Questions To Ask When You Start An ESG Program

New York Times?Bestselling Author Michael Hyatt once said, "Our lives are shaped by the questions we ask. Good questions lead to good outcomes. Bad questions lead to bad outcomes." Starting a successful Environment Social Governance (ESG) program begins with asking the right questions. To help you get started with your ESG program, we have developed six critical questions to help you achieve your desired outcome.?

?6 Critical Questions for Starting a Successful ESG Program?

?1.????Why are you starting your ESG program?

Often, it is difficult for people and companies to clearly articulate their why—their purpose, cause, or belief that drives them to do what they do. The first step in creating a successful ESG program is to understand what your company wants to accomplish (i.e., your mission) and why you personally want to drive this mission forward.?Our article,?Understanding Your Motivation?, can help you explore what you are looking to accomplish with your ESG program.

Multiple questions can be driving you and your team. Is there a specific cause in the community you are looking to impact? Is it to make the most difference and or to reach more customers? Is it to help your employees feel a greater sense of purpose and develop a better team culture? Is senior management driving this to create a legacy??

?2.????What stakeholder group are you looking to serve with this program?

This is the most skipped question, and it comes back to haunt companies. In a post-game analysis, one group is excited about how this event was an excellent opportunity for employees to come together, while another group is disappointed that they did not make a greater impact in the community. It is important to identify the primary stakeholder group you will be serving because it will bring clarity as you make decisions regarding the specific direction of your ESG program.???

?3.????What causes is your team passionate about, and is there any overlap with upper management, employees, customers, community, and investors?

Surfacing your team's passions and understanding your stakeholders' significant causes is critical to creating a sustainable ESG program. Before your company can move toward a cause in a unified manner, letting everyone voice their passions for the community is essential. It does not mean you will do them all, but it does mean you can find some common ground on which you can build a successful program.?

?4.????What non-profits fit your company's culture, passions, and strategic direction??

Partnerships can make or break an ESG program, and it is essential to build strategic partnerships that benefit your company and your community. As you narrow down your list of potential partners, ask yourself if you want to support large national organizations or smaller local non-profits. Then, think about which of these organizations fit your company's passions and have the capacity to engage your company. Remember, if there is a lack of capacity, chemistry, or culture fit, both you and your partners will be frustrated by the lack of progress.

?5.????How do you plan on impacting the cause or serving your non-profit partner??

So, you have a partner; now what? I think it's always best to sit down with a representative from the non-profit and ask what they need and how your company can help. Many times, people approach non-profits with an agenda or a plan. If you have the right non-profit, you have found leaders who know what needs to be done, just as you do in your company. Trust them to guide you toward the most significant actions resulting in the greatest impact.?

Before you meet, you need to understand if you are looking to donate money and/or time and at what level. This discussion will help the non-profit realize what is possible and inform them of your expectations for this partnership. If the needs of the non-profit don't match your company's capabilities, you need to find a new partner.??

?6.????Who is going to lead your ESG program???

In another article, we talked about?how to find the right person to lead your CSR program?and that it's is crucial to your success. The right leader should have the ability to influence, connect, and execute.

Influence:?They must be able to influence and energize others to engage in community causes.?

Connect:?They can connect to upper management, the community, non-profit leaders, and other company employees.?

Execute:?They must be able to make it happen, meaning they can rally people, accomplish critical tasks, and have the capacity to engage a new priority.??

Get Started With Our Free Assessment?

These six questions will help you go further faster as you create your ESG program. They can also help you figure out what went wrong in past ESG programs and how you can move forward with a new strategy. To help you get started, we have created a?free assessment?designed to help you identify your personal passions and to help you understand how your passions will help your company get started with making a difference in the community.??

TAKE ASSESSMENT

At Corporate Impact Group, we specialize in helping companies like yours walk through this process so you can stay focused on your core business. If you are ready to take your business to the next level with a successful ESG program, contact me at [email protected], and we will be here to help you every step of the way!

This article originally appeared on www.corporateimpactgroup.com