The red flags that may be holding you back from social value success​

Just wanting to ‘do the right thing’ often isn’t enough. Change isn’t easy, and whilst many large companies now realise they need to embed social value into their business proposition, switching from a shareholder-focused model to one which creates value for all stakeholders isn’t something that comes naturally to them.

This article shares the most common reasons social value initiatives fail and how to spot red flags and get back on the right track.

One of the main reasons we get excited about helping businesses embed social value into their proposition isn’t just because thinking the private sector should behave in a responsible manner (although we do); it’s because we know that organisations that actively ‘make a difference’ to people, places and the planet do much better commercially in the long run. Whilst we can all think of companies that aren’t in the least bit ethical or sustainable and are still thriving financially, they are taking a huge risk in choosing short-term profit maximisation over long-term financial viability.
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There is growing evidence that doing better business is better for a business. As Professor Alex Edmans from the London Business School argues so effectively in his book ‘Grow the Pie’, great companies deliver purpose and profit. But good intentions aren’t enough. Social value will only enhance your reputation and differentiate you from your competitors if you do it properly.

​Authenticity and trust are premium assets for any modern organisation, and with a growing number of critics quick to suggest that companies who invest in social value, ESG or CSR are simply ‘purpose-washing’ doing it badly not only won’t give you the results you need, it can also be as much of business risk as not doing it at all.

At Samtaler, our specialist team of social value practitioners have spent years working with large, complex organisations and the public and third sectors. It means that we know how to get started with social value creation (read our previous article here), and we can also spot things that are likely to result in poorer outcomes. Here are our top red flags that social value isn’t working. If you recognise any of these, you may rethink your approach. Understanding of social value and what it means for your organisation.

8 reasons social value isn’t working

1. You aren't using your people

Companies are not faceless machines or inherently evil. They are made up of ordinary people. People who (probably) recycle their cardboard, walk their child to school and volunteer in their communities. These aren’t people who start their working day thinking, “I want to negatively affect the community I work in.”

Companies that create meaningful social value recognise this and allow their employees the agency to bring their best selves to work. Research confirms that having more autonomy, or ‘self-determination’, at work leads to better employee motivation and engagement, and we know that more engaged employees are more productive. When you empower your staff, social value creation happens much more easily because *they* can usually see quite easily what changes need to be made, and they are given the agency and responsibility to make it happen.

2. Your organisation is siloed

When we talk about business, we often talk about growth like it’s a beautiful thing. More opportunity, more staff, economies of scale and so on. Yet we also know that innovation and change are much more complex and challenging in large companies. In this case, social value can often fall victim to being siloed. If Division A is tasked with procuring the most cost-effective widgets and Division B is responsible for reducing your carbon footprint, but these departments are not talking to each other or working towards compatible KPIs, then ‘change’ can very quickly grind to a halt. There is no simple solution, but fundamentally you need to make sure that everyone across the business understands what you are trying to achieve and is working towards the same goal.

3. Social Value sits on its own

Lots of organisations have recently invested in whole social value departments. While this isn’t necessarily the wrong approach, it’s worth remembering that social value creation only works if it is embedded strategically across the whole organisation. That means these teams must have a seat in the C-Suite and report directly to the board. They need to have the power to bring together many different parts of the organisation, help people join the dots, and ensure that every business decision accounts for social and economic value.

4. You’re afraid to commit to real change

A problem we see time and time again is social value being viewed as a short-term tick-in-the-box or a side project. You’ve invested in one day of diversity training. Tick. You organised one day of volunteering. Tick. You launched a charitable foundation. Tick. These things might look nice in your annual report, but they miss a bigger opportunity to do something more impactful.

The best social value comes from scrutinising your existing operations and identifying areas where you can make permanent, positive change. It also happens when you leverage your business’ unique skills and expertise to benefit people, places and the planet - not just your profits. This isn’t something that happens overnight, and it probably won’t be the cheapest option, but this isn’t just about ‘doing the right thing’; it’s also about future-proofing your business. As Claire Bodanis, author of “Trust Me I’m Listed”, told us: “Ultimately companies that continue to just prioritise profits won’t survive in the future.”

5. You aren’t being honest

It can be tempting to use ‘social value’ as an excuse to parachute ideas you were planning to do anyway. The problem is that staff will see right through this. Even if the idea is popular, it will make them cynical about future initiatives. And if the idea isn’t beloved by your teams? Then social value becomes purpose-washing, and it won't work because your staff aren’t on board. You also risk losing your staff because research shows a growing number of employees want to work at companies that reflect their values and have a social purpose. Business is complex. It is not always possible to opt for the most popular option for many reasons, but whatever you decide, make sure you are honest with your teams and evidence your decisions.

6. PR doesn’t align with purpose

Gone are the days when an organisation could get away with announcing a shiny new sustainability initiative that is actually at odds with fundamental issues at the heart of the company’s day-to-day operations.

In 2021 there is nowhere to hide. Consumers will join the dots, and if your narrative is flimsy and isn’t aligned with what’s happening in the rest of the business (or your supply chain!), it will result in a massive dent in your reputation – and your profit margin too. As John O’Brien and David Gallagher explain in their book, ‘Truth Be Told: How Authentic Marketing and Communication wins in a purposeful age’, “leadership of a purpose-powered business and its communication strategy starts with its truth aligned, capable of explaining why the business exists and how it draws an emotional connection between that core truth, its behaviours, and product credentials.”
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When it comes to communicating change, ease off the PR pedal until you can evidence your efforts are making a difference, or be prepared to share the whole journey with your stakeholders – ups and downs.

7. You’re excluding stakeholders from decision-making

Good social value starts with a conversation. (Incidentally ‘that’s why ‘Samtaler’ is the Danish word for ‘conversation’). But all too often, social value decisions are the bright ideas of people in boardrooms with little input from the supposed beneficiaries. Housebuilding is a classic example of this when public consultations often happen after plans have been drawn up, which means it’s too late to make significant changes. Plot in time to genuinely listen to and engage with all of your stakeholders BEFORE making decisions and actively involve them in decision-making wherever possible and throughout your social value journey.

8. You don’t understand it

We get it. There’s a lot of jargon. Social value, purpose, ESG, Social Responsibility, and Community Benefit – are all used interchangeably and in vague unrealistic ways. It’s one of the reasons some prefer to follow Friedman’s shareholder theory which suggests companies should focus on maximising profit for their shareholders above all else.

Whatever you choose to call it, the solution will be unique to your organisation. There is no best practice template, and if you simply copy and paste what other people are doing, you’ll end up with something performative (and likely expensive) that will fizzle out.

The good news is that social value doesn’t have to be overly ambitious and complicated. It’s simply about taking a good look at sourcing, logistics, people, production, processes and policies, developing a clear purpose and leveraging your strengths to be better, more sustainable and create social and economic value.

How we can help

At Samtaler, we understand the importance of your social value commitment. You’re here because you care about the impact your business has on society and want to be better. We want you to succeed, and we know from experience that achieving social value requires skill, strategy, and support.

To find out how we can help send an email to hello@samtaler.co.uk

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