Putting a Face on Social Responsibility

A quick Google search of the phrase, social responsibility, displays images of ecosystems, planet earth and green plants as well as images of hands holding planet earth and green plants. This is not the image of social responsibility that concerns me so let’s put a face on it. Much more than recycling and saving the earth:

Social responsibility comprises the desire and ability to willingly contribute to society, or social group, and generally to the welfare of others. This component of emotional intelligence involves acting in a responsible manner, even though you might not benefit personally. – The EQ Edge, Stein and Book, 2011, p. 147

As part of my speaking and coaching practice, I value discussing emotional intelligence or EQ which includes a facet called social responsibility. In addition, I have spent almost 15 years observing multi-generations in the workplace and realize that the development of social responsibility is something we need to talk about more, especially across the generations in the workplace.

Let’s put a your face on it!

Every day, you are given opportunities to participate more fully in the social groups to which you belong. Social Responsibility is how you support the group, “take one for the team” and/or “watch each other’s backs.”  When you respond to others in a timely manner, honoring your appointments, you are being socially responsible. When you show up and participate whether face-to-face or online, when you do your fair share of projects, you are being socially responsible. So, when are you NOT? Here’s a big and often overlooked violation — when you do not promptly respond to and/or disregard or ignore other’s business emails, texts and phone calls. Notice that I said business. It is inexcusable and disrespectful.

I’ve made it a socially responsible practice in my coaching to provide immediate feedback when I am the recipient of these socially irresponsible behaviors because I believe that people are not aware of these type of offenses and the high cost of continuing these behaviors. I’ve discovered more often than not, people appreciate knowing their offense as they want to be socially responsible.  

Why should you be more socially responsible?

There is a rich and positive return on investment. As the theory proves and I have personally discovered, when people focus on developing their social responsibility there is a high correlation to increased happiness, self-regard and feelings of accomplishing goals (self-actualization).

Don’t think you need to become more socially responsible? Are you willing to ask those close to you if they agree with your self-assessment? Why not ask — it’s the socially responsible thing to do and you may pleasantly surprised at how much happier you can be.  🙂