In a society with continuous cable news cycles, watchdog journalism and engaged activists, businesses can no longer turn a cold shoulder to corporate responsibility. Demonstrating commitment and accountability to stakeholders, employees, consumers and the environment is expected of any successful business, large or small. Local and global communities should be enriched or at least untouched due to your presence, not damaged or threatened.

How your business affects the public, the economy and the environment must be taken into consideration in your everyday business practices. After all, it is not just about doing the right thing but also illustrating to the public your competence as a contributing member in the local or global community. Consider the following corporate responsibility list of actions to take when implementing or adjusting your business agenda:

1. Obtain corporate responsibility information to gain a better understanding of what is required of your business.

2. If you do not know where to start, take a look at what a corporate responsibility provider can do for you.

3. Communicate your emphasis of corporate responsibility to the public by providing an annual or quarterly report.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find corporate responsibility information online

Understanding the principles and trends behind corporate responsibility will enable you to enact an agenda and guidelines that benefit your business and the greater community. The definition of corporate responsibility is ever-changing and always expanding, so staying up-to-date is vital to a successful business strategy. Make sure you are not just meeting the minimum standards of corporate responsibility but instead demonstrating to the public your commitment to providing a cohesive accountability model that will rival or beat other businesses in your industry.

I recommend: Check out "The Culture of Compliance" at The Corporate Responsibility Officer, which details the importance of creating a unified approach to corporate responsibility and the challenges your business may face. You may also find the Environmental News Network to be beneficial as it provides an article highlighting the geographical breakdown of corporate responsibility trends.

Understand the benefits of practicing corporate responsibility

Retaining the services of a corporate responsibility provider may be useful, especially for small businesses with fewer resources at their disposal. Before setting out to implement or adjust your business' corporate responsibility philosophy, make sure you understand the benefits of a focus on accountability and the services provided by outsourcing this endeavor.

I recommend: Take a look at Environmental Risk Management, a company that assists businesses in managing their corporate responsibility. There you can review case studies demonstrating how businesses have benefited from their services. Visit the International Chamber of Commerce website, where you can learn about the various benefits derived from practicing good corporate responsibility.

Release reports to demonstrate your corporate responsibility

Communicate your corporate responsibility goals and achievements through the release of annual or quarterly reports to ensure that the public realizes your business's efforts. Providing consumers with corporate responsibility information should attract business and ward off negative press attention.

I recommend: Follow the guidelines you can download at Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) when writing your corporate responsibility report. Check out the Campbell's Soup Company corporate responsibility report to better understand what your report should look like. Campbell's followed the GRI guidelines to formulate their most recent report.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure to set realistic corporate responsibility objectives. Your business will be held accountable for its actions and inactions, so set attainable goals that are within your business's reach.