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While many larger organizations have staff or even entire departments dedicated to corporate social responsibility (CSR), there is a common perception that social responsibility is too difficult or expensive for smaller organizations to achieve. In reality, many SMEs are already carrying out good work on a less formal basis. Here we offer some top tips on effective CSR for SMEs.
Make CSR Your Mission
Your vision or mission statement might set out the aims and objectives of your organization, but does it include a commitment to socially responsible principles? If not, this can be a good place to set out your existing or intended commitment to social and environmental concerns, and to help keep you focused.
Capture What You’re Already Doing
You may not realize it, but your organization is already being socially responsible, by complying with health and safety legislation, for example, and by employing a diverse workforce. You may also be addressing social and environmental issues, e.g. by recycling paper, or allowing employees to work from home. It is a good idea to document all these activities and initiatives, no matter how small, and think about how you can build on them. It can be useful to categorize your CSR efforts into those that apply to:
a) your workforce
b) the community
c) stakeholders
d) the environment
Aim for Continual Improvement
Rather than seeing social responsibility as an end-point, it is more helpful to think in terms of incremental and continuous steps toward being a better organization. Whenever you introduce a new policy or practice, consider what impact (positive or negative) it might have on your employees, clients and other stakeholders. If they are positive impacts, then publicize them in your staff newsletter, intranet or annual report. If they are potentially negative, then consider how these impacts could be lessened or removed. For example, a public sector organization that wishes to fund a project through private finance might hold a public meeting to explain its reasons for doing so, and to take any objections from the public on board.
Look Beyond Financial Measures
Many organizations judge their success by profitability or turnover alone. But there is all sorts of other information that gives an indication of how well your organization is doing.
- Staff turnover can tell you a lot about employee engagement, for instance, which is an increasingly important part of any CSR strategy.
- Similarly, as the desire to work for an ethical employer becomes increasingly important to job seekers, your organization’s ability to attract new talent can help you to gauge the strength of your corporate reputation.
Consider Accreditation
Working towards accreditation, e.g. Investors in People or an industry-specific award, can help provide you with a more structured approach to CSR. Additionally, once achieved, accreditation can help set you apart from the competition and enhance your reputation.
Conduct a Staff Survey
Staff surveys can be an extremely useful way of finding out what impresses employees about your organization and the issues that concern them. The results can help you to improve employee engagement and deliver products and/or services that are more relevant and attractive to customers.
If you don’t already conduct an annual survey, think about starting one. If you already run one, review it to ensure that it asks questions that will provide useful feedback about CSR. Why not go one step further, and devise a questionnaire with the specific aim of reviewing your approach to CSR?
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help
Initially, CSR can seem a bit daunting. Fortunately, there is no shortage of websites, consultants and relevant bodies that can offer (often free) advice on the best way for your organization to approach it. Business in the Community is a good place to start. You can visit them here.
Learn From Others
Many organizations are making CSR an integral part of day-to-day business and publicizing their efforts. What are your competitors doing? Check their websites for CSR case studies or initiatives. Are there similar measures that you could take? It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on the press for organizations that are leading the way in CSR. CSR is now a well-represented category in many awards schemes, some of which recognize the efforts of SMEs, e.g. the National Business Awards and Business in the Community Awards. These can also be a good source of ideas and inspiration.
Share Your Experiences
If you have introduced a new social responsibility initiative or have found certain aspects of CSR tricky, why not share your experiences with others via places such as your local enterprise network or chamber of commerce? By doing this, you can encourage like-minded organizations to share their experiences and knowledge with you.
