Is Your Company a Good Citizen?

Consider the term “citizenship”.  What thoughts race though your mind?  How do you define it?  Do you bend towards ‘legal status’ or ‘member of a community’ or maybe, it’s ‘an identity of belonging to a specific culture’?  For many, when asked for an immediate judgement, citizenship is wrapped up in an individual’s contribution or responsibility to a society.  It’s about the individual.  Great…but what about a business or a corporation?  Doesn’t a company also have a responsibility to the community in which it “lives”?  Assuredly, it does.

Corporate Citizenship or Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) speaks to a company’s responsibility to nurture the health of the community in which it resides and also of the communities in which it serves.  Health, in this case, refers to principles such as living standards, quality of life and security, environment, community development and growth.  This type of citizenship is grounded in an ethos or ethical commitment to its fellow members.  Research conducted by Bradley Googins and Philip Mirvis of Boston College’s Center for Corporate Citizenship have identified five (5) levels of citizenship growth: 

1. Elementary Stage - In this level, a company is pretty much focused on compliance. It’s not that the company is unwilling to be a better citizen, it may just be a new citizen or one that is still learning about its own needs. 

2. Engaged Stage – Here, the company is beginning to evolve The company recognizes the need to nurture its corporate members (staff) and prepare them for more active roles in developing business principles. 

3. Innovative Stage – Dipping a toe in the community waters, now the company begins to explore its greater surroundings. Albeit tentative, the citizen now ventures out into the community to offer involvement. 

4. Integrated Stage – The company is now a fully functional member of the community. At this stage, the company formalizes its commitment and responsibility to the well-being of the community at large. 

5. Transforming Stage – Strategies are now developed for a more global mindset and expanded citizenship. 

So, what about shareholders and profits, you may ask?  Yes, a good company always looks out for the interest of its stakeholders.  A great company balances its responsibilities to both investors and community.   Why is this important?  Customers and employees recognize the businesses that are vested in their well-being.  That recognition strengthens the relationship needed for a business to thrive.  A thriving business makes stakeholders very happy.  So, the question is…Is your company a good citizen??  If the answer is no, how do you become one?  The five steps above will give you a pretty good road-map to follow.