Getting People on the Same Page

The world has always been complex, though this may be more apparent today. One way to describe the challenges of sustainable business is the triple bottom line of (1) monetary return, (2) environmental impact, and (3) societal implications. Much corporate messaging claims to address all three. To avoid this being simple PR exercise (positioning, at best; and hypocrisy, at worse), leaders have to acknowledge trade-offs that drive strategic decisions.

Recall the recent statement by Toyota’s President that the companies growth objectives overshadowed the necessity to maintain safety standards within the supply chain. This is an example of a strategic issue in business sustainability: is our priority growth or product safety? Whether through formal policy, or informally within the organization (and ideally in both cases), there is great value in clarifying the position of the organization. Done well, this drives an aligned corporate culture where tough decisions become clearer.

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