Stakeholder Engagement Tips for Business Sustainability Leaders

Reviewing a recent Environmental Leader post, How to Engage in Sustainability with Higher Purpose, the author describes how most executives want to establish organizations and businesses that are sustainable for the long-run. To do so, these leaders understand that they must effectively engage with their stakeholders, especially their employees . But what is the most effective way?

The article offers its own personal insight into the characteristics of an effective stakeholder engagement program.

Engagement Is Not a Program: Leaders must provide mechanisms for involvement and ownership that are integrated into the culture and the work systems.

Leaders Must Follow Through: Effective engagement results from dedication and commitment. It cannot be viewed as merely a way to cut costs, or as a public relations initiative to impress the public.

Engagement Is Not a Tool: Engagement should not be viewed as transactional and impersonal. Build near-unbreakable bonds of trust and loyalty with your stakeholders, as well as a passion for excellence and advocacy.

Emotional Connections Come with a Higher Purpose: When a company communicates a vision of how it will contribute value not only to its shareholders but also to the world, employees can connect emotionally and get engaged.

Recognizing there is not a ‘one size fits all’ approach, we remain open to what others have achieved through both traditional and open culture approaches. The above recommendations offer some good guidelines to consider in the creation of your own program for increasing employee engagement.

Visit us at Taiga Company to lean more. Our sustainability consulting works with clients to implement stakeholder and social media engagement strategies as part of an overall business sustainability plan.