Whatever you do, there may be consequences

As a small business owner, I am often asked what my views are on speaking out on social issues or posting positions on social media. This is a complicated issue. I admit that in many cases there may be both personal and professional pressures and desires to respond to social issues.  You may want to respond to something that is happening in the country or in the world, however this can be a professional minefield. Examples of these types of topics may include diversity or racial justice, wars, politics, crime, environmental issues, etc. You are entitled to your positions on these topics, however remember that these are very much hot-button topics and that your responses to social issues or to something on social media has the potential to either help your business or to hurt your business.

My response is you should always understand that no matter what you do, there may be consequences and you and your business must be ready to face them, whether positive or negative. My advice is that if you do choose to respond to an issue, always focus on social issues that are a natural extension of the work your company does. Be strategic in your thinking and in your actions when navigating these social issues. Be careful to avoid rhetoric and extreme positions. Be clear in your actions and words. If you want to comment or take an active role in social media or on social issues it’s best to start with building teams and communities that can support your efforts. This shows a solid commitment to the issue and to your position in relation to the issue.

In the global society we live in, with 24/7 communication and natural divisiveness on many issues, it is most likely these types of issues are only going to increase. A survey from the global leadership consultancy Egon Zehnder, titled “The CEO Response,” notes that CEOs anticipate a lot of changes in the near future. Ninety-five percent of them “expect significant, systemic shifts in the economy, geopolitics, energy, and technology over the next ten years.” And a lot of CEOs feel their role obligates them to be social influencers: 80 percent say they “acknowledge an expanded role beyond leading their companies.”

Additionally, employees look for their companies to take strong stances on social and political issues, but the risk in doing that is that your company could take a stand on an issue that actually doesn’t align with your company values. Make sure you always check any social media stance or public stance on an issue coming from you or from your business to see if it aligns with your company values.

As a business owner, it is your responsibility to make sure you represent the full spectrum of society to both your employee and to your customers. Therefore tread carefully when addressing social issues.

Timothy A Dimoff, CPP, Founder and President of SACS Consulting and Training Center, is a nationally recognized expert in corporate security and HR issues, with over 40 years of experience in workplace security, labor and human resource consulting to corporations, associations, religious entities, educational facilities, non-profit organizations and others.  He consults, trains and develops solutions for workplace issues including substance abuse, management training, sexual harassment, documentation procedures, liability reduction, hiring/firing, pre-employment screening, employee motivation, workplace violence, bullying, corporate investigations, internal theft, security analysis/vulnerability assessment and security measures. He provides commentary and profiling analysis for television, radio and print media worldwide.

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