She brimmed with brilliant ideas, from engagements in local communities to global efforts as their company was expanding throughout the U.S., Europe, and Africa.
But she was deeply disheartened, describing how her recommendations elicited a black hole of silence when she shared about the enormous energy of citizen volunteers ready to engage.
With virtually no budget and just one part-time assistant, she needed resources from higher-ups to proceed: a green light wouldn’t suffice, but she wasn’t even getting that.
Sadly, I’ve encountered this only too often. But we may finally have reached a tipping point where social responsibility is something businesses and governments must act on, not just talk about.
Covid-19 revealed a raft of inequalities, which provides an opportunity for us to redress these disparities. Employees and consumers increasingly want companies to do that. A similar trend shows that citizens expect it from their governments.
During his first 100 days, U.S. president Joe Biden focused on more inclusive prosperity domestically. A Pew Research Center study shows that many in the U.S. and Western European economies support government-sponsored job training, affordable public housing, and other interventions to revive economies.
Biden also is pursuing greater global cooperation on a range of issues, rejoining several international treaties.
Jeffrey Sachs, President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, calls for sharing the intellectual property of Covid-19 so that vaccines can reach the most vulnerable in our world.
He cites 150 former heads of state and Nobel laureates who sent an open letter supporting this. What does this mean for you? As leaders, first, we each must develop a deeper sense of responsibility for each other and our planet.
Then we must become advocates for our enterprises to grapple with the world’s enormous problems, extending beyond exclusively quarterly returns.
We also need multi-sector, cross-border alliances to tackle issues that no one sector or nation can successfully address on its own.
The foundation for effective social responsibility is a belief in the power and importance of unity, empathy, fairness, and the acceptance of human differences.
Engaging with others on efforts — large or small, local, national or international — is our best chance to save humanity and the planet, by cementing business, political and social systems that help all of us thrive rather than dividing and destroying us.
Leaders must think both/and instead of either/or. We’re not just observers: We can be influencers and change-makers. Compassionate conscious capitalism connects us to a deeper purpose.
The more we engage with each other, the better “the whole” functions and we increase our chances of being successful with our individual endeavors.
Compassionate capitalism is calling. Figure out what you want to do, then find others to work with you. Then act as if meaningful change can be achieved — and it will be.
You Might Also Like:
Keep up to date with the latest finance news by following us on Facebook and Instagram.
Article Source: Forbes.com
