I want to work for a responsible company
I want to work for a responsible company. These are the words of many a person today, when reflecting on corporate opportunities. A few years ago the words were slightly different ‘I want to work in social enterprise’ or ‘ want to make a difference’.
An evolution of the word ‘sustainability’ is under way – thankfully. Was ‘sustainability’ ever truly about minimizing the use of a resource, ensuring that a resource will exist beyond our own lifetime, or that a practice can simply keep on keeping on? Not really – it was always about the responsibility we can all accept, and when that responsibility is embedded into all that we do and say, it facilitates trust and engagement.
People today are seeking opportunities to trust their leader, a brand, a government, and even intentions, and until they believe the level of trust, engagement will be limited.
According to a senior official of Emirates Foundation, recently interviewed on Dubai Eye Radio, sustainability is about managing non-technical risk. Poorly-managed technical risk brings uncertainty and fluctuations, peaks and troughs to any market, whereas poorly managed non-technical risk could flatline or wipe out an entire bourse overnight, demonstrating the dangers of lost trust.
Responsible companies are responsible ‘in entirety’. What they intend, say and do are in alignment with all stakeholders, ensuring that the result of decisions and behavior is not only an increase in their performance but also in the collective standard of well-being, living and shared ‘wealth’.
Let’s hear it from responsible companies! Is this really an evolution in the interpretation of the word ‘sustainability’ or could it be a revolution of epic change proportions?
