Even the actions of a single person can help to change the world. How? Through simple acts of leadership and compassion. Open up this book, and discover the true stories of people whose actions have caused a chain reaction at work and in their communities. Among them: A manager who gives an employee some supportive praise, and as a result literally saves his life (page 231).
A small group of bank tellers who spearhead a movement to raise millions of dollars for breast cancer, making it the biggest fundraiser in North America, and enhancing their company’s reputation (page 213).
A sales manager who gets a copy of a groundbreaking book that leads to a transformation of the company’s operations. As a result, hundreds of millions of pounds of carpet waste avoid the landfill, and the company sparks a revolution in its industry (page 12).
A “responsibility revolution” is shaking up corporate America. In this provocative and insightful book, bestselling author Tim Sanders reveals why companies must to go beyond making a profit and start making a difference.
Every one of us, regardless of title or position, can inspire our companies to change the way they do business, helping them to become a positive force for enriching people, communities, and the environment. When this happens, not only do we help save the world, we help save our companies from becoming irrelevant. We also become part of what Sanders calls the Responsibility Revolution.
Companies that don’t participate in this revolution risk becoming obsolete. Today customers, employees, and investors are demanding that companies focus on their social responsibilities—not just their bottom lines. Sixty-five percent of American consumers say they would change to brands associated with a good cause if price and quality were equal; 66 percent of recent college graduates will not work for companies with poor social values. And more than sixty million people are willing to pay a premium for socially and environmentally responsible products.
In SAVING THE WORLD AT WORK, Tim Sanders offers concrete suggestions on how all of us can help our companies join the Responsibility Revolution. Drawing on extensive interviews with hundreds of employees and CEOs, and illuminated by countless stories of people who are making a difference in the workplace and in the world, Sanders offers practical advice every individual and company can use to make the world a better place--now and in the future.
Excerpts
From the book
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1 The Power of One Revolutionary There is a revolution under way, one that will change the way people define the role of business.
There is a revolution under way that will undermine billiondollar companies if they don't respond to it, and make niche companies that embrace it enormously valuable.
here is a revolution under way that will transform our reasons for buying products and services. This revolution will be more influential than the quality revolution of the 1970s or the Internet revolution of the 1990s.
There is a revolution under way that will rival compensation and benefits as the primary reason to take a job.
If you're not paying attention to this revolution, you and your company may be running out of time to participate--and thrive in the post-revolutionary era.
The Responsibility Revolution has arrived. It demands that companies make a difference to society--not just indirectly, by producing jobs and profits, but directly, through their products, through their manufacturing methods and operational systems, through their environmental efforts and community outreach.
The consumers and customers leading this revolution will screen your company to see if it is socially responsible. Then, and only then, will they reward it with their loyalty.
The Responsibility Revolution represents a new consciousness among consumers concerning why we buy or don't buy, what we use or don't use. We want to make a positive difference with our wallets, and through our actions, to make the world a better place.
There is also a new consciousness among employees. We want to find greater meaning in our lives through our work. We want to be associated with companies that practice good corporate citizenship.
There is a new consciousness among investors as well. We want to shape the future by putting our money into companies that match our social values.
Consumers, employees, and investors are changing business. They expect the companies with which they do business to join them in taking responsibility for the planet on which we all live, and for giving back to the larger world.
This is not a revolution that can be ignored. It will not go away. If your business isn't socially responsible in the future, the forces of good will ride into the market like the cavalry, surround it, and choke off your supply lines. If you work in a company that is not socially responsible, whether it is a Fortune 500 company or a mom-andpop operation, it will feel the impact on its profits and revenues, and your colleagues could lose their jobs as the company buckles under the weight of this new paradigm.
You don't believe me? Consider this: Today 65 percent of Americans are willing to switch to a brand associated with a good cause if price and quality are relatively equal. And 66 percent participate in at least one social cause-generated boycott each year (and with each passing year, the percentage grows).
In a recent study by the global consultancy The Work Foundation,10 percent of young job seekers identified themselves as "ethical enthusiasts," more concerned about the ecological values of their potential employer than they are about starting take-home pay. One-third of these job seekers will be looking for a new position soon, because they feel their employers' contribution to the community is below par. Two-thirds of this year's college graduates claim they will not work for a company with a poor reputation for social responsibility.
Even more like-minded individuals will hit the workforce in 2010. In a 2006 study of fourteen- to eighteen-year-olds (commissioned by ad agency Energy BBDO), 78...
Reviews
John C. Maxwell, author of the New York Times bestseller The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership...
"This remarkably inspiring and important book will have a powerful affect on everyone who reads it. By telling the stories of everyday people at work, Tim Sanders first shows us why every one of us should make a difference, and then he shows us how to make that difference. It is a must read!"
Seth Godin, author of Tribes...
"Don't buy a copy of this book. Buy four. One for you, one for the boss, and two for your team. Read it, absorb it, do it."
Daniel H. Pink, author of A WHOLE NEW MIND and THE ADVENTURES OF JOHNNY BUNKO...
"With intelligence and passion, Tim Sanders reveals the new competitive logic of business: Being great now depends on being good. The Responsibility Revolution is upon us -- and this remarkable book will surely accelerate its arrival. Whether you're in the boardroom or the mailroom, you owe it to yourself to read SAVING THE WORLD AT WORK and to begin putting into practice its powerful lessons."
Patrick Lencioni, president, The Table Group; author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team...
"Tim Sanders brings a human touch to business life that is always needed. He reminds us that at the end of the day, the impact we have on one another, in our lives and at work, is what endures."
About the Author
TIM SANDERS is the author of Love Is the Killer App and a top speaker on the lecture circuit. He was the chief solutions officer at Yahoo!Inc. from 2001to 2005, where he worked on next-generation business strategies. He has been featured in Time and USA TODAY, and has appeared on Today, CNN, Fox and Friends, Tucker Carlson, and on national radio. He lives in Los Angeles,...
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