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Should Your Business Have A Social Conscience?
One of the questions that is meant to tell you if you are more left wing or right wing, politically speaking, is this one:
“Do you believe that government exists to serve people, or to serve companies?”
Ultimately, this is something of a bizarre question– even if you take the politics out of it. A person could believe that a government should aid business, but because they believe businesses will aid people. Alternatively, someone could believe that government exists to help people, so they can create businesses and become wealth generators. Ultimately, this question has the same end answer for many people.
However, it’s interesting that it’s become the definition of which political wing you sit on. The idea behind it, rather insultingly to business owners, is that companies aren’t particularly interested about the well-being of the populace at large. While that may be true for some (there’s a bad apple in every bunch), a savvy businessperson will understand that companies can be a force for good as well as profit-generation.
Why Does This Matter To You?
Ultimately, the world is becoming more divided in terms of politics. This is somewhat inevitable in the aftermath of a financial crisis like the one that swallowed the world nearly a decade ago.
A huge section of society now expects that all businesses should have a social conscience. As a business owner, this is something you need to take notice of. This is especially true if you’re marketing to a young demographic; the generation most likely to demand the companies they interact with have a good ethical background. Unless you want to alienate your core target market, you need to investigate ways to ensure your business is flying its social credentials loud and proud.
What If You Don’t Have Social Credentials (Yet)?
The answer is fairly simple: get them. It’s that important to the future of your business. While you’re in the process of getting a business going, it’s unlikely that you’re thinking too much about your social message– but when you’re in full-flow and operating, it’s definitely an area you need to keep an eye on.
There are a variety of different ways that you can do this. Mark Zuckerberg has announced that he will donate the vast majority of his personal wealth to charity. Issa Asad has made his business focus on the less-fortunate in society, by providing cell phone service to veterans and low-earners. Bill Gates has an entire foundation dedicated to helping people. If you choose to follow their lead, and give back to the society from whom you derive your customers, then it’s a sound business decision that’s also good for humanity.
What If Your Funds Are Low?
If you can’t afford to change your entire business model to further social causes, and haven’t amassed a tech fortune that you can donate, then there’s still things you can do. Donate what you can; organize charity events; even small-scale things like donating prizes to local raffles is beneficial. If you can show you’re a business owner with a heart, then you’ll find your business on stronger ground than ever.
