Take time to plan how you can help others.
Your company, project, or personal ministry will have an effect on society as a whole. You have the opportunity to decide in advance what that effect will be. The actions of organizations large and small have come under recent scrutiny. Social responsibility has begun to take a larger role as companies build it into their strategic plans.
Whether or not you have it fully developed, you probably already have at least a basic strategy to move your operation forward. A strategy is a coordinated effort to bring together processes and activities so as to reach a predefined goal. In a book called The Strategy Process: Concepts, Contexts, Cases, the authors say, “A strategy is the pattern or plan that integrates an organization’s major goals, policies, and action sequences into a cohesive whole” (Mintzberg, Ghoshal, Lampel, & Quinn, 2003).
The purpose is to bring focus to identified priorities in an effort to shape individual decisions. When resources are allocated based on the strategic plan, you will begin to see results as the corporate body begins to move in a unified direction. Strategy, then, is the alignment of a company’s activities to a common purpose (Mintzberg et al., 2003).
The activities you are focusing on are your priorities. How you are focusing your energies is your strategy. Take the time to plan in how your actions will help or hinder those around you. A little forethought can help you make a positive difference in your community.
A social responsibility plan considers the needs of stakeholders who may not be part of your formal operation. Think beyond the firm’s traditional priority of profits and shareholder’s equity for a moment. Those are still front and center but there is also room for broader efforts. Planning and taking positive actions will usually generate an increased public image and bolster the strategic position of your company, project, or personal ministry.
The act of building social responsibility into the strategic plan will help you marshal your resources. It will serve as a guide for the thousands of individual actions taking place under your auspices each day. Provide a positive company direction and you will be influencing your corporate culture by daily orienting employee behavior. Imagine the combined effect of your actions all focused on making a positive difference.
Society has subjected businesses and organizations to increased scrutiny in today’s world. In response, companies have begun to incorporate social responsibility into their strategic plans. When you include social responsibility it will serve to marshal your resources to make a positive impact on society. And ultimately, through our personal ministries, that is what we are here to do.
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