Long-term business growth and financial gain are impacted by:
- Public safety
- Public health
- Educated consumers
- Diversity
- Mission
- JC Penney “Too Pretty To Do Homework” T-shirt
- Exxon oil spill
- Discrimination at Denny’s
All memorable business fiascos right?
Gone are the days when businesses can simply ‘do no harm’. We have entered the age of the internet and mainstream social consciousness. In order for businesses to achieve sustained success – increased profits and reduced liability – they must also make a positive impact.
The ultimate goal in business is to make money but businesses that invest in their community are at an advantage.
- High turnover destroys profits. A healthy business environment attracts qualified employees who do good work and are more likely remain with the company longer.
- Strong communities financially (and even legislatively) support good local businesses.
- Strong business and community partnerships increase a company’s potential customer base.
- Customers boast about supporting ethical companies
I encourage doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do. Businesses who perform socially responsible activities fare better. Consumers spend their money with businesses they know, like, and trust. Employees want to work in companies that share their values and goals. Community relations is about more than branding and marketing. Although public image is important, I encourage owners and managers to make their people and our planet just as important as making a profit.
A few common activities that bolster community relations or corporate social responsibility are:
- Sponsoring a blood drive
- Donating holiday gifts to a children’s hospital
- Sponsoring a little league team
- Recycling and using green materials
- Creating a scholarship fund
- Offering employees a day off with pay for their birthday
- Offering free health workshops to community members
- Support our National Foster Care Month Pack A Backpack™ Drive
What is your company doing to improve its relationships in the community?
Nicki Sanders is an experienced trainer, group facilitator, and program manager. She has packaged her Masters of Social Work degree and over 15 years of work experience into Packaged For Success, a training and professional development company. Packaged For Success provides career coaching to college students, entry-level job hunters, and experienced employees seeking a promotion. Packaged For Success also offers communication and productivity improvement training for employees and supervisors and provides consultation on building sustainable, impactful, socially responsible community programs.
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