No B.S. ESG

Several months ago, I was at a conference listening to a panel of CFOs discuss their strategy to ensure financial continuity during the economic upheaval. 

One CFO made this statement, which has still stuck with me: 

“I need my 150 employees to help me run the business.  If they don’t understand our goals, our current state, or the financials themselves, they’re not going to be able to do that.” 

The speaker eloquently summarized how the c-suite now needs to lead its employees - not through micromanagement- but by engaging and enabling teams to find solutions within their roles. 

It’s the same way with ESG and social impact.   

If people don’t understand your organizational goals, they will not be able to incorporate the work into their roles, no matter what your impact report says.

Here are three ideas to ensure employees can understand and support your vision for impact: 

• ENGAGE your employees in creating your impact report.  Ask them for examples of your organization's work in the last year that’s created a positive impact.

• ASK your teams how effectively they think your organization could do or suggestions on activities they’d like to see.  If possible, do it alongside your employee satisfaction survey.

• SHARE the good work your organization is doing throughout the year.  Make sure people have the impact report, but don’t assume they’ve read it all.  Plan to sprinkle in your wins in employee communications for 2023.

• TRAIN your team to understand how profit and purpose intersect and help them identify ways to bring this into their existing goals.

People can’t run your business towards profit and social impact if they don’t understand how. Especially if they aren’t clear that you want them to be.

Here with you,

Dora