Discover how resilience can transform challenges into opportunities for sustained success in Corporate Social Responsibility roles.

Setbacks are often part of the picture in the CSR landscape because change is hard, engaging everyone is even harder and staying on track sometimes feels impossible. Embracing the uncertainty of the world while staying true to your values and adjusting the course make you resilient- often key to success.

Last updated on Sep 9, 2024

You're facing challenges in your CSR role. How can resilience lead to sustained success?

In your role as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) professional, you're tasked with ensuring that your company operates in a socially responsible manner, balancing profit-making with activities that benefit society. But like any role, it's replete with challenges. The key to overcoming these obstacles and achieving sustained success lies in one crucial trait: resilience. Resilience is not just about bouncing back from setbacks; it's about learning, adapting, and forging ahead with renewed purpose and strategy.

1 CSR Basics

Corporate Social Responsibility is a self-regulating business model that helps a company be socially accountable to itself, its stakeholders, and the public. By practicing CSR, you ensure that the company can be conscious of the kind of impact it is having on all aspects of society, including economic, social, and environmental. In the face of challenges, understanding the core principles of CSR is crucial. It's about being committed to making a positive change and having the tenacity to push through adversity while maintaining ethical standards and transparency.

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Karlheinz LAHONTA-ROMISCH

Corporate Social Responsability (CSR) Senior Consultant at FI Group
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You have to be prepared to take things one step at a time and not force things. The basics must be covered in order to go beyond them. Standards and regulations are the foundation of a strategy because they are a must, a minimum. This is something that many managers forget, and yet it has the greatest negative impact on a company's business.

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Suzette McFaul

CEO @ SEF Canada | Creating Sustainable Businesses 25+ Years | Global experience in over 22 countries | Economic Development Strategies | Board and Advisory Board Member
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Resilience isn't is a great action word. Tough and quick in communities usually doesn't get you far. The strategies you develop need to be worked ground up. From all stakeholders/ shareholders goals. Checklist strategies developed from an outside top down approach are those with most resistance. Showing value to each party at the table wins. Talk is cheap

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2 Overcoming Hurdles

Challenges in CSR can range from internal resistance to external economic pressures. Resilience in this context means having the ability to navigate these hurdles with strategic thinking and a positive attitude. It involves engaging stakeholders effectively, advocating for CSR's value within your company, and constantly seeking innovative solutions to social and environmental issues. By demonstrating the long-term benefits of CSR initiatives, you can secure buy-in and foster a culture of responsibility and sustainability.

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Carolina Garay Tascón

Non-financial Risk Management | CSR | Mining & Metals Industry | Social Performance | Human Rights | Conflict Resolution l FPIC l Resettlement I International Standards I Community Engagement
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1. Identifying the Hurdle: The mining company faces a crisis due to an escalating community protest over environmental concerns. 2. Strategy Development: The company creates a plan including open communication, meetings with community leaders, and an independent environmental assessment. 3. Implementation: The plan is executed, adjustments are made based on feedback, and practices are improved. 4. Evaluation and Learning: The company reviews the crisis management, learns from the experience, and strengthens its CSR strategies to address future challenges. 5. Outcome: The company effectively manages the crisis, enhances its relationship with the community, and demonstrates resilience, ensuring long-term stability and success.

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3 Strategic Adaptation

Resilience is also about strategic adaptation—recognizing when the current approach isn't working and being willing to pivot. This could involve revising CSR policies, redefining goals, or even overhauling initiatives to better align with the company's mission and stakeholder expectations. Your ability to anticipate changes in the business environment and adapt your strategies accordingly will not only help overcome immediate challenges but also position the company for future success.

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4 Stakeholder Engagement

Effective stakeholder engagement is a cornerstone of resilient CSR practice. It's about listening to the needs and concerns of those affected by your company's operations and responding with empathy and action. Building strong relationships with stakeholders can provide valuable insights, foster collaboration, and enhance your company's reputation. When challenges arise, these relationships can be crucial in finding mutually beneficial solutions and driving forward positive change.

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Karlheinz LAHONTA-ROMISCH

Corporate Social Responsability (CSR) Senior Consultant at FI Group
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Resilience also affects the company's value chain and its stakeholders. It is important to engage your partners on this issue and to support them as much as possible (technical and logistical expertise, financial support, etc.).

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5 Learning from Failure

Every setback in your CSR journey is an opportunity to learn and grow. Resilient CSR professionals don't shy away from failure; they embrace it as a chance to innovate and improve. Analyzing what went wrong, gathering feedback, and implementing lessons learned are all part of building a robust CSR strategy. By fostering a culture that values continuous improvement, you can help your company evolve and thrive in an ever-changing corporate landscape.

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Solenn de Kersauson

Chief Business Development Officer @ Doctor Mau Informa® | LinkedIn Top Voice | Advocate First-Gen Hispanics | Ask Solenn Newsletter
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Setbacks are often part of the picture in the CSR landscape because change is hard, engaging everyone is even harder and staying on track sometimes feels impossible. Embracing the uncertainty of the world while staying true to your values and adjusting the course make you resilient- often key to success.

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6 Future-Proofing CSR

Finally, resilience in CSR is about future-proofing your initiatives. It involves staying abreast of emerging trends, societal expectations, and regulatory changes. By proactively planning for the future, you can ensure that your CSR efforts remain relevant and impactful. This forward-thinking approach not only helps navigate current challenges but also sets the stage for long-term success in making a positive difference in society through your company's actions.

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Karlheinz LAHONTA-ROMISCH

Corporate Social Responsability (CSR) Senior Consultant at FI Group
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Resilience is not the return to a past state, but the adaptation to a changed state. A CSR that is integrated into the company makes it possible to gain versatility and agility and to be at the forefront. It's a question of having decision-making structures capable of accepting change and rethinking their activities, but also of having a robust network of relays and contacts within the company. We need to be able to listen to everyone's needs, expectations and ideas in order to move forward.

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You're facing challenges in your CSR role. How can resilience lead to sustained success?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 CSR Basics

2 Overcoming Hurdles

3 Strategic Adaptation

4 Stakeholder Engagement

5 Learning from Failure

6 Future-Proofing CSR

Corporate Social Responsibility

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You're facing challenges in your CSR role. How can resilience lead to sustained success?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 CSR Basics

2 Overcoming Hurdles

3 Strategic Adaptation

4 Stakeholder Engagement

5 Learning from Failure

6 Future-Proofing CSR

Corporate Social Responsibility

Rate this article

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