A better world supported by better business
Thought leaders must generate conversations.
Conversations must generate action.
Actions must generate positive change
This seems simple but whether it’s in business, social services or even politics, it provides a basic rule of thumb for what “thought leaders” should be striving for. Ideas are great, action has to follow but positive change is what it’s really all about.
I recently attended a social media/digital marketing seminar for NFP and social enterprise. Tyler Riewer came out with the great question while talking about telling stories.
Are storytellers really just sales people, and if so, is this a bad thing?
I often think that many purposeful organisations, especially NFPs, see ‘selling’ as a dirty word. It’s so capitalist, profit driven, corporate etc etc.
The reality is that we should be selling our purpose. If it really is your authentic mission, you will be selling it and not even know it. Fundamentally, if we don’t want to sell our purpose, do we really believe in it?
It’s up to us to tell the stories that sell our purpose.
If we look at LinkedIn and other business environments, we’re all there putting out advice or ‘wise words’. Congratulating ourselves, our teams or our contacts on some success.
When was the last time you saw a post asking for help, advice or support? I’m not talking about the odd post about which name or graphic looks the best. I’m talking about situations where we genuinely don’t know what to do and we need help to solve an issue.
Are we still asking for help, just not in a way that everyone sees we’re seeking it? Or are we basically stubborn and despite the advice we give, we’re still not good at asking for it ourselves?
Obviously, the reality is all of the above.
Asking for help in a non-public way makes sense. What really concerns me though are cases where people don’t realise that they need help, or do realise but are afraid to ask (or worse still, don’t think that they are worthy of others help).
Of course the next logical question is… are we asking the right people to help us?
Today I was reminded of an old saying that I used to have pinned to the wall in front of me when I first took on a leadership position.
“Hell is responsibility without authority”
This is as true today as it was when I first saw it.
Someone commented on LinkedIn that purpose at work is just a con – a way that profit hunger managers and owners can get their staff more engaged, simply so they can earn even more profit.
Owning a business called The Optimistic Cynic, I totally understand the point they’re trying to make here.
There will be companies that use ‘purpose’ simply as a method to engage staff or for their marketing messaging. The same way they have used the environmental message. So yes, people need to be aware of this.
There is a big BUT here.
I like to believe that most people (shareholders, directors and managers are people as well) genuinely want to do good. Historically business was never seen as a tool for doing that but this view is definitely changing. We now know that you can have a purpose and still make a profit. Normal business strategies can be tweaked to reduce harm or to do good, without any extra costs. Staff will definitely be more engaged if the organisation has a purpose other than making money.
The key issue is, like most things, how genuine it all is (I would have used the word authentic, but wow is that word over used or what?).
If a company purports to be purposeful but doesn’t follow through with it, people will know. Staff will obviously be the first to work it out and that change in perspective will filter through to customers. With the internet, people also find these things out for themselves and ultimately anything the find for themselves will greatly outweigh anything a company may try telling them, regardless of their marketing spend.
Will your staff leave the business if you don’t have a genuine purpose? Probably not, especially if they have a family to provide for. Will all your customers suddenly disappear to the competition? Again, probably not – unless the competition are purpose driven and offer the same value.
On the flip side, will your staff be more engaged, enjoy coming to work and share that passion with your customers if you are a purposeful organisation? – absolutely.
Retention and recruitment easier within purposeful organisations? – oh yes indeed.
If more organisations are becoming purposeful, is it likely that your customers and suppliers will be in that group? – it would be unusual if they’re not.
Yes some companies will ‘purpose-wash’ but that shouldn’t stop you going down this path. It’s better for your staff, your customers, your communities and you!
Have a genuine purpose is easy and is simply the right thing to do.
I have just attended a Waster Workshop hosted by Mainstream Green and the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce – enabled by the WDC.
I’ve been a bit flat lately (the concussion didn’t help but that’s another story) but you simply can’t help but be inspired by Nicola Turner talking so passionately and practically about reducing waste.
What really struck me, in addition to all of the sage advice from Nicky, was how easy it is to use the same concepts and energy to support people and communities as well as reducing waste.
If we want a great world to live in, we need to support people, community and the environment. We need all parts to be healthy and sustainable.
Nicky is fantastic and all organisations need to listen to people like her – it’s easy to do better and fundamentally I believe we all want that.
Yes I’ve been slack.
Have the thoughts dried up – absolutely not, but they’re not being tapped into the computer. They’re just drifting around in the space between my ears.
The issue is simple, blogging isn’t enough. Wanting to see change is vastly different to making change happen.
I need to do more. In fact I need to do much more!
So while I’m thinking about what I can do, I’ll also take the time to completely up-date the website.
This pause is really a just golden silence.
Learning how to use business as a resource to do good has become even easier.
Touch Point, seven business strategies for a better world is now available on Amazon for down loading to your kindle or tablet.
Check it out here
Well I’ve finally put my money where my mouth is – and it’s fair enough to say “about time”.
I have often spread the message about the great work being done by Duffle & Co. A social enterprise that is competing on the quality of their products as well as their purpose. They provide income for village-based crafts people, they proactively do good for the environment but best of all, their gear is top notch.
I’ve been so impressed by what they do, I even referred to them in my book Touch Point about businesses strategies to do good for our communities.
While I have always admired a couple of their satchels, I haven’t really needed a new one. This year however, even though I don’t need it, I decided to splash out and buy myself a Christmas present
Sat hello to Daniel – my sleek new leather friend.
The Optimistic Cynic 