5 humanistic pillars which are changing the business world

Business humanism that emerges to consolidate solidarity into organizations is imposing in the business world, changing it decisively.

Many times I have addressed this very important issue to the business group I preside because for some time we have tried to become a model and a reference of business humanism in our country. However, today I am going to emphasize five humanistic pillars which are currently changing the business world:

1. To put human beings as ultimate goals and the reason of companies. Beyond productivity and profitability, dignity of each related (chairmen, employees, workers, providers, customers, public in general) is highlighted to leverage their full growth.

2. Management aware of its role into the society it belongs to. Hence they are not satisfied to keep to legal obligations but to make a business social commitment aimed at common benefit and integral well-being of the whole society.

3. To promote collaborators’ capabilities, potentialities and talents through motivation and education to achieve business goals and at the same time it supports their full development as human beings, professionals and integral citizens.

4. Merits as sources of authority. Authority is based on merits and not in the power of a position. Therefore, authority will always have to be aimed at setting the example and trying to get respect from decisions, actions and team work, rather than coercive ability or a position in the organization chart.

5. Sensible and flexible leadership. To appreciate and understand individuals in their full complexity, to listen to them, help and motivate them to reach their goals. To notice changes and adapt to them. An open, conciliatory and optimistic attitude. 

8 keys to strengthen social commitment in your company

Dealing with our experience with programs we have been carrying out to support the education of youths with low economic resources, I would like to leave for your consideration some key recommendations that will be helpful to strengthen actions, plans and programs which, beyond responsibility, we consider them as our Business Social Commitment (“Compromiso Social Empresarial”, CSE for its acronym in Spanish)

Stop to think and know the vulnerable sector. Many times what we think might help them, is very far away from what they really need and expect from us. It is a fundamental practice to influence positively and adjust the budget.

Focus on a goal according to a big problem. This determination will be part of your business identity and it will give you a range wide enough to develop several programs according to possibilities.

An inner commitment. If you are concerned in helping childhood, disability, health or education, to mention some cases, start with your human talent, providers, neighbors, affiliates and customers. This will give you reliability, credibility and good reputation in front of the rest of the community.

Planning and linkage with the company. This will undoubtedly give you solidity, because when planning, we establish an alignment with business values, their reasons for being and their sustainability needs.  

Involve your human team work as much as possible. You will be surprised at the fact that many of them share your sensibility when facing some problems and situations. Facilitate their participation and take into account any emerging ideas in order to strengthen the activity.

Create support networks. A great social project might not have a happy ending if effective networks of collaborators and sponsors are not inserted. Allies, volunteers, specialists in the area, an organized community, authorities and friends of the cause contribute to consolidate it along the time.

Coherence between saying and doing. There is nothing better to strengthen a social commitment project than our own daily behavior facing this reality. A team in charge of managing it successfully is not enough. Companies’ speech and behavior must be adequate to this vision of society we are pursuing.

Inform results and next projects. Allow people involved and the public in general to know the impact of your CSE with quantitative and qualitative results that they can value and acknowledge as a true contribution to the community.