How can you create a CSR mission statement that is both ambitious and achievable?

2 Research your stakeholders' needs

Your CSR mission statement should also address the needs and interests of your key stakeholders, such as your customers, employees, suppliers, investors, regulators, and society at large. You need to understand what they care about, what they expect from you, and how you can meet or exceed their expectations. You can conduct surveys, interviews, focus groups, or other forms of stakeholder engagement to gather insights and feedback on your CSR performance and opportunities.

3 Align with your business goals

Your CSR mission statement should not be disconnected from your overall business goals and vision. Rather, it should demonstrate how your CSR efforts support and enhance your business objectives and value proposition. You should show how your CSR activities contribute to your competitive advantage, innovation, growth, and profitability, as well as your social and environmental impact. You should also consider how your CSR mission statement aligns with your industry standards, best practices, and benchmarks.

4 Be specific and realistic

Your CSR mission statement should be specific and realistic, not vague or aspirational. You should avoid using generic or clichéd terms, such as "making the world a better place" or "doing good", without explaining how you actually do it. You should also avoid making promises or claims that you cannot deliver or measure. Instead, you should use concrete and relevant examples, facts, and figures to illustrate your CSR achievements and aspirations. You should also set SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) goals and indicators to track your progress and performance.

6 Review and revise regularly

Your CSR mission statement is not a static or final document. It is a dynamic and evolving expression of your organization's purpose and impact. You should review and revise your CSR mission statement regularly, to ensure that it reflects your current and future CSR strategy and performance, as well as the changing needs and expectations of your stakeholders and society. You should also solicit feedback and input from your internal and external stakeholders, and involve them in your CSR mission statement development and implementation.