Steps to CSR

Written by Acme Mag

Predicting the unpredictable – it’s real estate’s most overwhelming challenge.  Regardless of the hours of research and time we invest in a property, our careers and all of the projects in between, we simply can’t predict the future. What we can predict, in fact, what we know, is that people naturally gravitate toward righteousness. Corporate Social Responsibility has never held such weight in business success than it does right now. 

In the world of real estate, where does CSR stand? Our level of responsibility may not sit with the likes of Coca Cola and Google, however, that doesn’t mean it’s non-existent, both from a moral and marketing standpoint. 

Any decision made by a business regarding their environmental or social impact is considered CSR, and these decisions don’t only feel good, they’re good for your marketing too – but it’s all about tact. By marketing these decisions tactfully, not only can you make an impact within the community, you can positively impact your company’s brand name and success – think lower staff turnover rates and higher returns.

There are two categories to distinguish CSR based decisions – proactive and reactive.  

Proactive CSR doesn’t lie solely in charitable donations – your ethos can be your own form of CSR – a public statement on where you stand and how you’re going  to make changes. People are now more than ever taking notice of where you stand – and whether you stand for anything in the first place. 

Rather than posting an image of the figure you’ve donated to a charity for example, a successful display of your donation should instead include an image of your staff members making a difference at said charity.

Reactive CSR is becoming more relevant in the current socio-political environment. A prime example can be seen in the wake of the devastating Australian Bushfires, where companies put their best foot forward and donated both time and money to the cause. It’s important to be delicate in a situation that carries such weight. Offering “a dollar donation for every Instagram follow” (believe me, it happened) is an abuse of circumstance. Instead, showing that you have contributed support to the victims of the fire, without disclosing a dollar value, is the ideal way of sharing your donation.

So the key to successful CSR? Consider your morals, explore your passions, target changes you can actively work toward and record every step of the way.