Community involvement and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) are the newest trends to rock the business world.
As millennials continue to make up a greater percentage of the workforce, businesses are responding by appealing to their internal motivators, needs, and wants. Businesses are placing a greater emphasis on corporate social responsibility, which often translates to local community involvement. While it’s important to consider community involvement and a strong CSR to appeal to great talent, it is just as important to consider in appealing to great clients.
As we see millennials entering the workforce, it doesn’t just affect our employees and talent acquisition practices, these millennials are also our consumers, our future clients, and our current prospects. This is an important connection to make when thinking about how community can impact your business and its bottom line.
Here at entreQuest, we believe in treating our employees like our clients, and our clients like our employees. Ryan Scott of Forbes wrote, “Millennials who stay at their jobs for more than five years are passionate about their work. Another reason Millennials stay? The bonds with their co-workers and the belief in their company’s mission and purpose.”
If employees stay with a company because of it’s mission and purpose, why would this be any different for our clients? Our clients are employing millennials at an increasingly higher rate than ever before. And these employees are becoming decision makers at their companies because they are more engaged, more fulfilled at work, and are motivated to make stronger impacts within their company.
The impact we at entreQuest make in our local community here in Baltimore, not only makes an impact within our own team, but also within our clients. When a client sees the type of impressions, not to mention the caliber, we have on people; we work to inspire others to do the same.
Take it a step further – what if you highlighted not only the community work you do with your own team, but begin to highlight your client’s community work? What impact would that have on your future prospects and your current clients? I’m willing to bet the relationship would strengthen. It’s not just good for business, it’s good for everyone involved.
One of the main reasons our clients stay with us is because we practice what we preach. We’re not just telling our clients to create an impact in their own market place; we’re creating it along with them. What makes us different is our participation in the community, giving back, and making a difference. Making a meaningful impact in your community can be profoundly beneficial, not just for your employees, but for other stakeholders - and ESPECIALLY your clients.
By intentionally making an impact in your business and community, you’re creating a ripple effect of engagement. Start your own ripple, make a difference, and engage yourself and those around you.