Advertising Age
By Paul Klein. Published on October 05, 2018.
Today, corporations recognize that having a social purpose matters: people want to work for companies with a purpose, consumers are aligning their purchase decisions with their passions, and investors, including Blackrock, are insisting that social purpose is mandatory for the companies they invest in. Too often, however, having a social purpose is business rhetoric rather than a meaningful response to important social issues.
Believing in something even if it means sacrificing everything is a message with a purpose. Beyond being an embodiment of “Just do it,” Colin Kaepernick’s message is an inspiring call to action about the importance of standing up – or kneeling – for what you believe in. It’s also brilliant marketing that co-opts the idea of rebellion to engage Nike’s young and racially diverse customers.
This campaign is great for Nike’s business. However, by addressing the reasons why Kaepernick was kneeling in the first place – racist policing, unacceptably high rates of incarceration of African-Americans and economic exploitation, Nike would be even more successful. Nike also needs to eliminate labour rights violations in its factories and ensure zero tolerance for discrimination and the harassment of women.
The Bell’s Let’s Talk campaign is Canada’s largest corporate initiative dedicated to mental health. Since 2010, the campaign has helped Canadians talk about mental health and providing organizations across the country with more than $93.4 million for access, care and research. According to the organization’s website, 87 percent of Canadians have reported that they are more aware of mental health issues since the campaign began.
There have been allegations that Let’s Talk is a sales promotion rather than an effective program for people who are at high risk of mental illness: people without homes and with addictions, indigenous people and refugees. Ironically, investigations by national broadcaster CBC, have revealed stories of former and current Bell employees who allege that Bell’s workplace is itself hazardous to mental health. Bell should align its resources to support those most likely to have mental illness issues and ensure that it is not contributing to mental illness among its employees.
Despite the examples of superficial responses to complex problems, today there is an expectation that businesses should be contributing to social change. Those that do will be seen as leaders and their companies will outperform their competitors.
Here are six new directions that can establish corporations as social change leaders.
Be bold
The global wellness industry has recently released a Social Impact Manifesto that spells out the industry’s commitment to helping solve global problems that have been identified as UN Sustainable Development Goals. Nike could pick an issue such as racist policing and commit to helping end this unacceptable practice.
Go to the frontlines
Today, being an effective corporate change-maker involves understanding what’s needed from the point of view of those who are most in need. Recently I had the opportunity to see the work of an organization in downtown Toronto called the West Neighbourhood House who provides important services to low-income residents and newcomers. They’re not looking for big donations, all they need to improve their impact is a Crock-Pot and plastic containers.
Stop advertising
Businesses that advertise aggressively but do not operate in a responsible manner get targeted for “social washing”. Genuinely doing the right thing generates valuable earned media because its authentic. Lululemon’s Here to Be may not be widely known but it is an effective global program that is increasing access to yoga and meditation for people such as refugees and trauma survivor that face barriers to well-being.
Become a B Corp
Doing this involves passing a rigorous assessment of social and environmental performance. Danon North America passed and is now the largest B Corp in the world. There’s no reason why corporations such as Nike and Bell can’t do the same.
Externalize social innovation
Corporations need to be more innovative but doing so is difficult within existing systems and risk constraints. That’s why businesses establish external tech labs. This approach should also be adopted in the area of corporate social change either by specific businesses or industry groups. The Sustainable Food Lab is a good example.
Make a profit (in the right way)
Nike and Bell are making money using campaigns that are disguised as social change. Hindustan Unilever’s Project Shakti is financially empowering rural women by providing a regular income stream for them and their families. The fact that Unilever is making a profit isn’t an issue because they’ve also helped establish nearly 80,000 micro-entrepreneurs.
None of these ideas will gain traction without support at the executive level. The 2018 Deloitte Millennial Survey found that young workers today are eager for business leaders to be proactive about making a positive impact in society. Yet 40% of respondents to Deloitte’s survey see business leaders as having a negative impact, suggesting that “the timing is ideal for business leaders to step up and take actions that benefit all of their stakeholders.”
My advice: Have a social purpose and make real social change.