Management and CSR: how to implement the CSR strategy?

Employees play a key role in the smooth running of a social responsibility policy. To implement a CSR approach, it must be deployed effectively with the various employees. We take stock of the key steps to effectively implement your CSR strategy with your teams.

 

Raising awareness of CSR among employees

By involving its employees in its CSR strategy, the company asks them to innovate, implement new practices and make a number of changes that can sometimes be destabilizing.

Therefore, before asking your teams to take any action, it is essential to gain their commitment and support.

This starts with a first phase of raising awareness of CSR issues. Managers must clearly describe the strategic orientations and the CSR commitments of the company, as well as the challenges and future impacts of this approach. In particular, it is important to emphasize the importance of the contribution of employees.

Leaders and managers must share their vision, with complete transparency. This must be broken down into precise and measurable objectives, the impact of which will be evaluated using performance indicators defined in advance.

This preliminary step will help employees find meaning, and feel involved in a strong and engaging project.

 

 

Training employees in CSR

For teams to feel concerned, it is fundamental that they become aware of the challenges of sustainable development, and that they understand the social and environmental concerns related to CSR.

What are the main CSR principles and what is the ISO 26000 standard? What CSR actions can be implemented? How can CSR be implemented at all levels of the company and with the various stakeholders? How to generate an ROI with your CSR actions?

It will be necessary to train the teams in these different issues, and develop specific skills for each business (HR, supply chain, marketing, etc.).

To train employees in CSR, it is possible to call on an external consultant, such as an interim CSR manager. An expert in corporate social responsibility, he or she works for a fixed period within the company, in order to ensure the proper deployment of the social responsibility approach with the operational teams.

 

 

Mobilizing your employees

In order to mobilize employees on a daily basis in the implementation of CSR actions, it may be beneficial to appoint a CSR manager, or to set up a dedicated committee.

This will provide a single point of contact, which will act as a link between leaders/managers and employees. This contact person will be able to supervise the smooth running of the actions deployed (reduction of energy consumption, reduction of waste, new recruitment policy, improvement of the quality of life at work, etc.).

In particular, it can be beneficial to solicit collective intelligence by involving everyone in the development of the CSR action plan, by conducting surveys, and by setting up working groups, discussion groups, suggestion boxes, etc.

Managers can also organise events around sustainable development and environmental protection: ecological challenges, awareness seminars, team building events, etc. This will make it possible to strengthen ties and federate teams around a common and meaningful mission.

 

 

Communicate with your teams

One of the major challenges for companies is to succeed in carrying out sustainable CSR actions, which are part of a continuous improvement approach.

To motivate teams over the long term, it is essential to regularly inform them of the impact and results of the various actions carried out. This will strengthen everyone’s commitment and involvement.

This communication therefore undeniably involves the implementation of audit and reporting tools to assess the progress and results of CSR actions.

Transparent communication Internally is therefore essential, but it is also true externally. The company must communicate regularly on its CSR practices to gain credibility and establish itself, in the eyes of stakeholders, as a responsible company.

 

Are you having trouble implementing your CSR strategy? At WAYDEN, we mobilize an interim CSR manager, with fifteen years of experience in senior positions, and solid expertise in CSR and sustainable development. This expert will be able to help you deploy your CSR strategy effectively and sustainably.