Corporate Social Responsibility: How CSR can redefine your purpose and mission
By Vicki Bohlsen, host of the “Taking Care in Business” podcast and president of Bohlsen Group
Finding my way to corporate social responsibility
As many businesses grow and evolve in today’s world, purpose and mission will always be the pillars to finding success. A purpose that has become near and dear to my heart is corporate social responsibility (CSR). Believe it or not, I spent years of my life completely unaware that many of the practices that I had incorporated into my company’s operations were right on the line of actively upholding social responsibility. Yet, I had not even heard this term “CSR” until it was pointed out to me by a consultant that felt I was embracing this concept within my operational strategies at Bohlsen Group and recommended that I look into becoming B Corp certified. Intrigued by this suggestion, I went out on a limb and began to do my own research on the topic, figuring that I’d learn a few things about what it takes to be socially responsible, if nothing else. Little did I know that I would connect with CSR on such a grand scale, using my personal beliefs to drive my company towards the mission of doing the right thing by people, planet and performance.
B Lab, a nonprofit organization that provides companies B Corp certifications, is a wonderful resource that can be used to help guide organizations and their employees on their own unique journeys in social responsibility. To be completely honest, I was not entirely sold on the idea of getting certified; however, I started working through B Lab’s free assessment as I was interested in the questions asked and how we would answer said questions. The survey was incredibly eye opening as I was able to identify how Bohlsen Group was already acting in socially responsible ways, while also noting where we were missing the mark in implementing these practices to their fullest and gaining additional insight into other ways that we could be doing better. It took about five months for me to complete this assessment as I found myself pausing to implement steps and policies to become more operationally responsible. Finally, we submitted our assessment and received a score that authorized our certification, making Bohlsen Group the first company in Indiana to be B Corp certified.
Addressing the most common question: Why CSR?
I’ve repeatedly been asked the same question 𑁋 “Why prioritize CSR?” 𑁋 and this question often comes from people with different backgrounds and intentions. The benefits of operating responsibly under the tenets of CSR are immense and often reveal untapped potential within your organization. For example, CSR strategies can help you create a company positioning that is stronger and more defined, make a direct connection with the community and environment, develop a good workplace culture and foster deeper relationships with clients. These are just a few of the potential benefits that can be a result of operating responsibly. Additionally, you witness firsthand how implementing CSR is mutually beneficial as you are able to see your employees, clients and other businesses thrive right alongside you.
Right around the time we received our B Corp certification, Indiana began to make it possible for companies to register as a Benefit Corporation, and I quickly began to recognize how confusing this was for other businesses. Questions were circling on the matter as people specifically wondered 𑁋 “What is the difference between a B Corp certified company and a Benefit Corporation?” As a result of these types of questions, I found myself in a role as somewhat of a spokesperson for the CSR movement as many of my peers within Indiana reached out for advice and clarification.
Making your passion your purpose
As time went by, I continued to connect with more companies and people regarding CSR. I found myself becoming even more passionate about how other organizations were using their business as a force for good within the world, and this led me to begin a podcast called “Taking Care in Business” (TCIB). Now, I use this platform to connect with individuals, discussing their own interpretations and practices related to CSR, and sharing these insights with my audience. Through this podcast, I have also been able to address and debunk numerous myths associated with CSR such as the idea that incorporating these ideals into business practices will decrease your bottom line or that your business will be more expensive to operate by using these methods.
While many of Bohlsen Group’s efforts already followed common guidelines associated with CSR, I was able to solidify what we were already doing and onboard new policies that ultimately grew our ability to be socially responsible. The beauty of CSR is that it does not just end at the office; your personal beliefs and actions will always impact your company and vice versa. For me, the act of incorporating CSR into Bohlsen Group’s practices and becoming a part of the B Corp community was single-handedly the best thing that I have ever done for the company.
If you're interested in learning more about CSR, Bohlsen Group or TCIB, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. Send me a message or submit your questions at https://takingcareinbusiness.com/contact/.