ORGANIZATIONAL PAYBACK

Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility is the most in and talked about thing in today’s modern and globalizing village world.  However most of the people talking about it and most of the organization implementing it hardly know what actually CSR is. It was in the 1950s we saw the start of the modern era of CSR when it was more commonly known as SR or social responsibility. In 1953, Howard Bowen published his book, Social Responsibilities of the Businessman, and is largely credited with coining the phrase 'corporate social responsibility' and he is perhaps regarded as the Father of modern day CSR.

According to Wikipedia “Corporate social responsibility is a type of international private business self-regulation that aims to contribute to societal goals of a philanthropic, activist, or charitable nature or by engage in or support volunteering or ethically-oriented practices”. In other words we can say that Enterprises should not only be profitable tools, but also be responsible citizenships. Corporate practices need a world structure to exceed imposed standards, go beyond present governments, and set goals for sustainable development. Multinational enterprises are responsive to the stakeholders’ needs. Therefore, enterprises must focus on productive stakes in the global economy, and include social responsibility “which creates long-term sustainability for corporate success by meeting the needs of all suppliers, investors and employees” into their ownership advantage. The perspective and implementation of CSR has important consequences for Multinational Enterprises in fostering development. This article addresses the implication that pays attention to the active and passive ways of CSR in which MNEs or the Pre-MNEs can be affected in sustainable development.

Most of the people consider that crucial role and responsibilities for business in fighting poverty and acting responsibly in developing countries. It begins by proposing different ways to categorize the literature on corporate social responsibility (CSR) in developing countries. CSR in developing countries is a rich and fascinating area of enquiry, which is becoming ever more important in CSR theory and practice; however it is profoundly under-researched.  In nut shell I can say that CSR is a thoughtful and practical way to give back to society. When businesses are conscious of their social and environmental impact on the world, they can benefit society by giving back and helping to find solutions to everyday issues, e.g. reduce carbon footprints to mitigate climate change. ... Change corporate policies to benefit the environment. Make socially and environmentally conscious investments., support improvement in literacy rate and health care, catering the hunger and thirst of down trodden society and by raising the living standards of the under privileged masses.

For every organization it has become quite essential now a day to comply with following four levels of social responsibility if it has to survive with a clear chit from the social media specialist and human right associations:

1.      Economics or the responsibility of the business to be profitable.

2.      The responsibility to meet the legal obligations.

3.      Businesses must comply with the law and regulations.

4.      Companies have a responsibility to act ethically and morally and to choose the action that will help the masses in general and their customers in particular.

Some of the core characteristics on which shows as how CSR is represented with different initiatives and processes ranging from voluntary activities are, managing external factors, stakeholder management, alignment of social and economic responsibilities, considering practices and values. Based on the shared characteristics following activities can be performed by a company to accomplish its CSR obligations:

Ø  Eradicating extreme hunger and poverty

Ø  Promotion of education

Ø  Promoting gender equality and empowering women

Ø  Reducing child mortality

Ø  Improving maternal health

Ø  Combating human immunodeficiency virus, acquired, immune deficiency syndrome, malaria and other diseases

Ø  Ensuring environmental sustainability,

Ø  Employment enhancing vocational skills, social business projects

Ø  Contribution to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund or any other fund set up by the Central Government or the Provincial Governments for socio-economic development,

Ø  Relief and funds for the welfare of the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, other backward classes, minorities and women and such other matters as may be prescribed.

Once an organization or company decide to be a Socially Responsible corporate then it has to decide as how to carry out this activity of their. As many big corporations have endowment arms, such projects can be a challenge for startups that lack the budget for grand philanthropic gestures. But even a modest effort can pay dividends in both positive publicity and customer loyalty. Best ways to perform this responsibility are:

a.      Carry out a focused effort by defining your messaging.

b.      Seek suggestion by involving your customers.

c.       Go for achievable & measurable goals by creating a scorecard.

d.      Reach out by using social media like, Facebook, twitter, blogs, v-logs and YouTube.

e.      Enter into alliance and partnership with a third party.

f.        Get Media support and seek publicity for your efforts and initiatives.

g.      Take your stake holders and shareholders in loop by repurposing your CSR reports.

Corporate Social Responsibility, or “CSR,” refers to the need for businesses to be good corporate citizens. ... CSR goes beyond earning money for shareholders. It's concerned with protecting the interests of all stakeholders, such as employees, customers, suppliers, and the communities in which businesses operate. The basic advantage that a socially responsible corporate will gain out of its CSR initiatives is the improvement they had brought in the lives of their customer and general masses life so they can contribute better and become more productive citizens. CSR and sustainability are good for business.

In short I can simply say that corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis., with the main intention of a CSR is to improve the transparency of organizations' activities. ... On one hand, CSR reports aim to enable companies to measure the impact of their activities on the environment, on society and on the economy on the other hand. Hence Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is an organization's obligation to consider the interests of their customers, employees, shareholders, communities, and the ecology and to consider the social and environmental consequences of their business activities. It’s a two way corridor for business enterprises as one one side it’s supporting the society by paying them back out of its profit for their betterment and uplifting their standards of living while on the other side it is generating good name and repo for itself thus indirectly attracting more customers and more profits. So I won’t be wrong in saying that for any organization and enterprise CSR is simply contributing to Self Resources.

BY: OVAIS ASAD KHAN

MY UNDERSTANDING

Sympathy vs Empathy (MY UNDERSTANDING)

(Part 2)

Nowadays it’s a fashion to talk about religion and Sufism and discussing words like empathy and sympathy, helping the poor and the sick and the hungered, subjugated and victimized poor in our drawing rooms. How much do we really mean it is another story but what does we really mean, when we use the words sympathy and empathy?

According to Google:

“Sympathy is a feeling of pity or sense of compassion — it's when you feel bad for someone else who's going through something hard.”

The feeling of sadness when someone is going through painful situations or circumstances. People often cry for other people when they see them in pain or crying for example seeing someone fighting cancer or losing a child or a parent, definitely sympathy is very different from empathy because in sympathy we don't feel or to put it correctly we cannot feel the exact pain or suffering that the other person is going through. Sympathy has levels from being minute to heartfelt, but it lasts for a short time.

Empathy is the way of life prescribed by the heavens, and preached in all religions;

“thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." 

Most Christian denominations consider this to be one of the commandments to be the core of correct Christian lifestyle. In Islam empathy is considered a must for all Muslims, According to a hadith:

None of you will have faith till he wishes for his (Muslim) brother what he likes for himself.” (Al-Bukhari)

The PROPHET ( PBUH) once said:

“You see the believers as regards their being merciful among themselves and showing love among themselves and being kind, resembling one body, so that, if any part of the body is not well then the whole body shares the sleeplessness (insomnia) and fever with it.” (Al-Bukhari)

·         Once a young man came to him and asked permission to commit zina (fornication). The people around were about to rebuke him when the Prophet told them to leave him alone. Then he asked him to apply empathy in order to understand the gravity of what he wanted to do:

“Would you like that for your mother?”

The man said: “No, by Allah, may Allah make me your ransom.”

The Prophet said:

“No, and the people do not like it for their mothers either.”

Then he said: “Would you like it for your daughter?”

“No, by Allah, may Allah make me your ransom.”

“No, and the people do not like it for their daughters either. Would you like it for your sister?”

“No, by Allah, may Allah make me your ransom.”

“No, and the people do not like it for their sisters either. Would you like it for your paternal aunt?”

“No, by Allah, may Allah make me your ransom.”

“No, and the people do not like it for their paternal aunts either. Would you like it for your maternal aunt?”

“No, by Allah, may Allah make me your ransom.”

“No, and the people do not like it for their maternal aunts either.”

Then the Prophet placed his hand on him and said:

“O Allah, forgives his sins and cleanses his heart, and protects his chastity.” (Ahmad)

 Empathy means to place oneself in other shoes and understanding his/her logic and feelings in that particular situation and act accordingly to help the person out. It literally means to treat another as one own self. When we do that, we are defying traditional rules, at times social customs and principals and doing what is right rather than what is accepted, if people start empathising more the world can be a very happy peaceful place to live, no one will let a poor go to sleep hungry, or in cold because they will be thinking about themselves. People will not abuse or rape other people’s daughters because they will know how bad it will feel if their own daughters, mother or sisters were mistreated, on the contrary people will start to stand up against abuse and mistreatment and injustice. People will not hurt people, not make them suffer, be dishonest or disloyal.

Empathy is a way of life, it’s a principle on how to live life. The best outcome of empathy is self-peace and better judgement. Unfortunately, as a society we have forgotten this concept, in being so called logical and professional we have degraded feelings to only a fool’s play and as an stupid act, which is our main downfall. It’s always the feelings and emotions that give strength to our relationships be it with GOD or HUMANS. And without relationships any business, social interactions, connections are nothing but a mere a failure.

BY: OVAIS ASAD KHAN

SYMPATHY vs EMPATHY

SYMPATHY vs EMPATHY( Meaning and definitions )

Recently I have been thinking about the meanings of these two words SYMPATHY and EMPATHY. According to the internet;

 ‘’These words are often confused, and with good reason. As both of the words deal with the relationship a person has to the feelings and experiences of another person’’.

So, let’s explore the differences between these terms and how they are most commonly used. Both sympathy and empathy have roots in the Greek term páthos meaning “suffering, feeling. “The difference between the most commonly used meanings of these two terms is: Sympathy is feeling compassion, sorrow, or pity for the hardships that another person encounters. Empathy is putting yourself in the shoes of another, which is why actors often talk about it. In other words we can say that the difference in meaning is usually explained with some variation of the following: empathy is when you share the feelings of another; sympathy is when you understand the feelings of another but do not necessarily share them.

In mid-1500s people started using the term Sympathy with a very broad meaning of “agreement or harmony in qualities between things or people.” Since then, the term has come to be used in a more specific way. But in recent time sympathy is largely used to convey commiseration, pity, or feelings of sorrow for someone else who is experiencing misfortune. This sense is often seen in the category of greeting cards labeled “sympathy” that specialize in messages of support and sorrow for others in a time of need. You feel bad for them … but you don’t know what it is like to be in their shoes and actually go through what pain and hard time they are going and feeling. For example: "Trying to lose weight can often feel like an uphill battle."

On the other hand Empathy entered English a few centuries after sympathy—in the late 1800s—with a somewhat technical and now obsolete meaning from the field of psychology. Psychologists began using empathy as a translation for the German term Einfühlung and the concept that a person could project their own feelings onto a viewed object. Contrary to sympathy, empathy has come to be used in a broader way than it was when it was first introduced; the term is now most often used to refer to the capacity or ability to imagine oneself in the situation of another, experiencing the emotions, ideas, or opinions of that person in it’s true sense and intensity. For example: "I know it's not easy to lose weight because I have faced the same problems myself."

‘’ Sympathy is a characteristic trait of politicians and empathy an emotion of the masses.”― Amit Abraham

Talking about the emotional sides of the two, I can easily say that the feeling of sympathy emerges from the recognition that another person is suffering, in contrast to empathy, where the other person's pain or suffering is felt. A person expresses sympathy, but shares empathy. The empathic feeling may be brief, and the person feeling it is said to "put themselves in the other person's place." Clearly indicating that empathy is a deeper feeling, but sympathy can be just as honest and heartfelt. However, empathy can forge a deeper and more meaningful connection, thus serving as a bridge for greater communication between individuals or between a leader and his or her followers. As its human nature that one always appreciates and like if someone relates his or her past experience with one that the other person is going through rather than just feeling sorry in words.

Sympathy is towards someone else, versus empathy, which is feeling like someone else.

Both of these terms are fully based on compassion which highlight the spirit of “Me in You”, As both sympathy and empathy imply caring for another person, but with empathy, the caring is enhanced or expanded by being able to feel the other person's emotions and its more intense feeling than just sympathy. The duo terms enable human being to inculcate the ability to understand one's fellow humans and their problems. People who lack this capacity are often classified as narcissistic, sociopaths, or in extreme cases, psychopathic.

It is very critical to mention that by showing more sympathetic and empathetic responses in the workplace and business as a whole are very welcome. By exhibiting these traits and being more emotionally intelligent, products and services can be created in better ways that add more value to customers’ lives. If you can learn to live outside of your head and see other perspectives, your thoughts, ideas, and views can become even more vibrant, diverse and ultimately strengthened.

 Sympathy feels like a performative word, whereas empathy is human.

According to Social psychologist Brené Brown: “Empathy fuels connection, and sympathy drives disconnection.” The difference between the two terms feels narrow, but it is crucial: empathy focuses on a mutual and shared (albeit potentially asynchronous) emotional experience, whereas sympathy moves more swiftly from feeling with to feeling for.

Four Qualities of Empathy

1. Perspective taking

2. Staying out of judgment

3. Recognizing emotion in other people, and then communicating that

4. Feeling with

Characteristics of sympathy are:

1.    Physical Descriptions

2.    Altruism

3.    Active v. Passive

4.    Morality

5.    Drafted or a Volunteer.

6.    Promise Keeper.

7.    Intelligence.

8.    Flaws

9.    Loved by someone else.

The Head and the Heart Theory:

Concluding our discussion which can easily be sum up in the “head & heart theory” which is the easiest way to stop the confusion between sympathy and empathy is to remember this: sympathy is a feeling you share with another person; empathy is the ability to understand the emotions of another person. To put it another way, it's a difference between the head (sympathy) and the heart (empathy).

By: ovais asad khan

BEING YOUR OWN BOSS

Self-Employment: A side Kick

“Being a self-employed means you work 12 hours a day for yourself so you don't have to work 8 hours a day for someone else.” Oliver Markus Malloy

In the present competitive and inflation ridden world it’s becoming really hard for most of us to meet our ends by working as an employee on a job. With rising inflation and standards of living it has now become an essential thing for everyone either to start a part time self-employed venture as a side kick or a full time self-employed business of their own.

If you start working for yourself, you’re classed as a self-employed or if you:

Ø  Run your business for yourself and take responsibility for its success or failure.

Ø  Have several customers at the same time.

Ø  Can decide how, where and when you do your work

Ø  Can hire other people at your own expense to help you or to do the work for you

Ø  Provide the main items of equipment to do your work

Ø  Are responsible for finishing any unsatisfactory work in your own time

Ø  Charge an agreed fixed price for your work

Ø  Sell goods or services to make a profit (including through websites or apps)

“If self-employment is the opposite of employed-by-other, than a job is outsourcing your freedom (time and talent) to a boss.” Richie Norton

One can be both employed and self-employed at the same time, for example if you work for an employer during the day and run your own business in the evenings. Self-employment is the state of working for oneself rather than an employer. Generally, tax authorities will view a person as self-employed if the person chooses to be recognized as such, or is generating income such that the person is required to file a tax return under legislation in the relevant jurisdiction. Besides that being self-employed means running your own business, but that business can be set up in a variety of ways.

It is worth mentioning here that by starting a business is an attractive alternative to a job you hate—or unemployment. When compared with working for someone else, self-employment presents a long list of opportunities and challenges, even for those professionals with deep, specific experience in their industry. Despite the finding that new business owners needs experience within their field before starting a venture of their own, as according to a research study almost two-thirds of businesses with self-employees will only survive their first 2 years, and about half will fold within 5 years.

A self-employed person is an independent contractor or sole proprietor who reports income earned from self-employment. Self-employed persons work for themselves at a variety of trades, professions and occupations rather than working for an employer.

“Freelance' means I can take watermelon breaks and no one can yell at me.” Mandy Ashcraft

Types of Self-Employment

There are millions of business areas and opportunities through which one can earn their livelihood as a self-employed individual, working for themselves. Some of the most common and in self-employment areas are:

v  Counseling

v  Property and real estate managers.

v  Farmers and ranchers.

v  Online Store

v  Affiliate Marketing

v  Food Service Managers (Catering).

v  Painters (construction and maintenance) .

v  Carpenters.

v  Freelancing

v  Lodging Managers.

v  Virtual Assistant Service.

v  Errand Service

v  Graphic Design Service

v  Ecommerce Sales

v  Social Media Consulting

v  Life Coaching

v  Personal Training

v  Auto Detailing

v  Handyman Service

v  Hair Styling

v  Makeup Artistry

v  Digital Product Sales

v  Child Care Service

v  Tutoring Service

v  Dog Walking Service

v  Event Planning

v  Photography Service

v  Blogging

v  Podcasting

v  EBook Sales

Advantages of Self-Employment

“You are self-employed. You work to pay your bills, build your dreams and create your life, regardless of who signs your paycheck.” Rob Liano

Once you decide to start your own venture and are ready to strike out on your own. You have great ideas for your own business and how you would run a company. But maybe you're a little nervous about the risks of going into business for yourself. Or you're wondering if the advantages of self-employment are worth the hard work that goes into owning a business. It's always a good idea to weigh the pros and cons before making a major decision like becoming self-employed. Looking at the perks can give you the confidence to take the plunge into self-employment. But once you decide to start as a  self-employed than go into it with all your energy and determination.

In general the motivating elements of being self-employed are Independence, control and freedom from routine - Companies or individuals you work for are your clients, not your employers. As clients, they can state what results are expected from you, but they do not direct your work. Of course, you want to satisfy your clients if you want to receive more work, favourable referrals or better rates. But you are your own boss, you decide when, where and how to work to get the job done. This all will give you a boast and self-esteem.

Beside this better feeling and self-boast one also gets financial rewards - A business may become very profitable. Companies are willing to pay more to independent contractors because they don't have the expensive, long-term commitments that they do with permanent employees, such as benefits, unemployment compensation and pensions. Independent contractors may also deduct business expenses from their taxes, which may increase their net pay. Now a days many successful businesses are run by newcomers or self-employed entrepreneurs.

Some of most evident advantages of being self-employed are:

Ø  Being your own boss

Ø  Control over All Business Aspects

Ø  Use of Your Skills

Ø  Ability to Problem Solve

Ø  Increased Earning Potential

Ø  Job Security

Ø  Flexibility in Your Work

Ø  Improved Quality of Life

Ø  Tax Benefits of Self-Employment

Ø  Potential for Growth and Learning

Ø  Connections With Customers

Ø  Sense of Pride

Ø  Building Something That Lasts

Disadvantages of Self-Employment

“Unhealthy habits and lifestyles reduce your productivity, cost your business (which, if you’re self-employed, is costing you), and create cyclical patterns of dysfunction and general dissatisfaction.” Melissa Steginus

However all is not that rosy in being self-employed as there are certain disadvantages too which many people associate with self-employment. It can be less security - It will be your responsibility to make sure you always have work to do. This means you may sometimes be without work and therefore without income. It cares very few free benefits - You will have to pay for your own vacation time, fund your own retirement plans, and buy your own dental, disability and life insurance.

Another disadvantage is that you have to pay your own taxes - As a self-employed person, you are solely responsible for doing all the paperwork and paying your taxes on time.

In the last I would like to highlight this thing once again that before diving in, consider if you're truly ready to be your own boss and how your lifestyle will be affected by such an immersive personal and professional decision. Here are six traits that encapsulate a successful transition from being employed in someone else's business to starting a business of your own.

v  You Must Be Flexible.

v  You Must Be Self-Motivated.

v  You Must Sell.

v  You Must Be Forward Thinking.

v  You Must Be Consistent.

v  You Must Be Okay With Uncertainty

“You are always self-employed. You are always the president of your own personal services corporation, no matter where you might be working at the moment. When you see yourself as self-employed, you develop the entrepreneur mentality. The mentality of the highly independent, self-responsible, self-starting individual. Instead of waiting for things to happen, you make things happen. You see yourself as the boss of your own life. You see yourself as completely in charge of your physical health, your financial well-being, your career, your relationships, your home, your car, every element of your existence. This is the mindset of the truly excellent person” Brian Tracy

If you think that after reading this blog you still think that you can manage all the pressure I had mentioned and you are determined to achieve all the benefits mentioned above by being a self-employed entrepreneur that all the best.

"WORLD IS ALL YOURS"

BY: OVAIS ASAD KAHN