Is your business ready for social activism? No idea? Learn why and how Social Activism might be right for your business. This is the last in our three post series on developing better work relationships.
Work Relationship Series
Our first post, Small Gestures, Big Results: Simple Teamwork tips, provides easy, every-day things you can do as an owner, manager, or contributor to be a better teammate.
The second post in the work relationships series, How To Show a Little LOVE To Your Work Relationships gives guidance on rewarding the obvious and not so obvious people who are essential to your business.
From employees and business partners to the vendors and family/friends who support you, it’s important to occasionally recognize their contribution – but in a business-appropriate way!
This third and last post in the work relationships series focuses on Social Activism as a rewarding, relationship-building activity.
What Is Social Activism?
So, what exactly is Social Activism when it comes to your small business? Often the mind jumps straight to political activism. It can be related to politics, but it definitely doesn’t have to be. Quite simply, Activism means using time or money to support something that is important to your business. The most effective activism occurs when the cause you’re supporting truly means something to your business or your employees.
Do you want to improve your engagement with your employees? Do you want to have customers feel good about spending their money with your business simply because of the good you do for the world? Not sure? Keep reading!
Why Social Activism Builds Team Bonds
- Having an easily identifiable common purpose, whether it’s for your business goals during the day or your free time on the weekend, connects people.
- Working towards something bigger than business provides perspective. Today’s employees and customers want to feel like their life is better for being a part of or using their purchasing power for an organization that is doing good in the world.
- Studies show that employees are looking for meaningful work. When you support their values, they are more engaged and ultimately more productive.
Image by silviarita from Pixabay
Things To Consider When Choosing an Area of Activism to Support
- Does it relate to your core business? If you don’t immediately answer yes, you might want to rethink your decision. Social activism can have its risks. If the area you choose doesn’t apply to your core business it’s going to be difficult to build upon. It may actually alienate your stakeholders.
- Does it resonate with your stakeholders (employees, customers, vendors)? This question is related to the first bullet but takes it a step further. You’re going to want buy-in. If the issue or cause you’re supporting doesn’t resonate, the buy-in won’t happen.
- Are you considered a credible expert in this area? If your support is going to encompass things like social media posts, op-ed’s in the local newspaper, or public speeches, you need to establish yourself in the area first. Work your way up if necessary.
Risks Associated With Social Activism
Lack of buy-in from employees and customer backlash are the two biggest risks associated with Social Activism. These work relationships can really be tested when an activism plan hasn’t been well thought out. Social Activism rarely works unless it’s genuine. In some cases, it can be a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.
You might be asking, so why do it? Social Activism is one of those things: when it works, it REALLY works. Like, it can be life-changing for your business. But only if you’ve really put a lot of heartfelt and genuine thought into it.
So if it’s hard to think of a cause that you and your employees can support, don’t. Just wait. It will be pretty obvious that you should probably start with some of the tips in our first two posts. Try really developing those work relationships and see what happens. Sometimes a little extra effort on communication can bring out a not-so-obvious common bond.
Photo by Brian Yurasits on Unsplash
Four Savvy Examples To Get Your Brain Thinking
- If you own a coffee shop that is ocean-front, you may be quite passionate about a local plastic/styrofoam ban in your city because it affects the health of the ocean that draws visitors to your business. Put your money where your mouth is and don’t use plastic or styrofoam. Offer a discount if your customer brings their own reusable coffee cup. Sponsor a beach clean-up and actually go participate!
- Run a pizza shop that gets 90% of its employees from the local high school or college? Get active there! Offer to provide pizza, discounted for school events. Sponsor a team, contribute to the Student Activities fund or buy the school some equipment. And go to sports activities! In fact, buy your employees’ tickets to go with their families.
- If you or an employee has faced or continues to face health conditions, address that head-on. Any restaurant can offer a diabetes-friendly dish on the menu. But how many offer to donate a portion to a non-profit that works on behalf of a medical condition?
- Enjoy being involved in many aspects of community-based groups and you have a space available? Why not offer an area for meetings? You can get to know the leaders and build those relationships.
We only listed a few ideas in this post but we would absolutely love to share your ideas as well. Feel free to share your own ideas and we may include them in an updated post.
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