My father was a remarkable doctor. Growing up, I witnessed his unflagging devotion to alleviating his patients’ pain. He worked with burn victims, so he was constantly confronted by suffering.
But he never wavered in his dedication. I used to wonder how he could be so committed. Then, I realized that his resolve came from his altruistic perspective.
Helping other people was my father’s life’s work, and that gave him the courage to show up even when it was challenging. This sense of purpose motivated him to create groundbreaking burn regeneration therapy and provide life-saving support to victims of the 2008 earthquake in Wenchuan, China. His others-first mentality empowered him to create meaningful change every day.
Although I decided to pursue a career in business instead of medicine, my father’s example inspired me to help others as well. That’s why I jumped at the chance to become a member of the Clinton Global Initiative. The initiative facilitates collaboration among governments, nongovernmental organizations, and local leaders to help communities solve crises caused by natural disasters, gender-based violence, and education gaps.
The initiative provides me with a way to contribute and live up to my father’s legacy. But it has also taught me that corporate social responsibility isn’t just about helping people out of the goodness of one’s heart. It’s an increasingly important aspect of a sound business strategy.
Social Responsibility Matters to Consumers
Consumers want to buy from companies that are mindful about the impact they make on the world. One recent study showed that “90 percent of shoppers worldwide are likely to switch to brands that support a good cause.”
As Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz wrote for Harvard Business Review, “It is no longer enough to serve customers, employees, and shareholders. As corporate citizens of the world, it is our responsibility — our duty — to serve the communities where we do business by helping to improve, for example, the quality of citizens’ education, employment, healthcare, safety, and overall daily life, plus future prospects.”
Companies with CSR initiatives also attract the best young talent because Millennials value social investment. In fact, community stature and high-quality CSR programs rank among Millennials’ top 10 criteria when evaluating potential employers.
How to to Cultivate Social Responsibility
Since my company began working with the Clinton Global Initiative to develop medical training for communities throughout China, I’ve found that I’m a better, more conscientious leader. I believe that well-rounded executives demonstrate good leadership skills and teach others how to be leaders.
If you want to develop a robust CSR culture, then here’s how to get started:
1. Practice Humility
Humility is crucial to connecting with people in meaningful ways because it tears away the barriers created by differences in net worth, social status, or government rank. Once those walls come down, you can talk about what you want to achieve and how to get there together.
Humility allows you to see what people really need, rather than imposing your own solutions. True progress happens when all parties feel that they’re equal and that their contributions are valued. If you want to affect change, you must talk with the communities you hope to serve and with people who have had success in similar endeavors.
2. Cultivate Selflessness
Ambitious leaders sometimes become so accustomed to making decisions on the basis of what’s good for them or their businesses that they lose sight of the bigger picture. I believe that you haven’t done a solid social good if your only motivation was a tax deduction. It means more if you’ve done something with no expectation of repayment.
Developing selflessness will make you a better leader because it puts you in tune with your team and your audience. You’ll understand their values and want to make your company an organization they’re proud to support.
3. Use Your Strengths
Ask yourself: What are you passionate about? What project would both excite and inspire you? You want to choose an area that aligns with your company’s mission and resources. Don’t pick a philanthropic focus at random. Find a cause for which you can provide sustainable solutions.
Corporate social responsibility not only benefits your company, but it also improves the lives of those in the communities where you work. And a focus on social good helps you step outside your own day-to-day concerns and find meaning greater than yourself.
Kevin Xu is the CEO of MEBO International , a California- and Beijing-based intellectual property management company specializing in applied health systems. He also leads Skingenix, which specializes in skin organ regeneration and the research and development of botanical drug products.
This article was taken from here.