CSR & ‘Survival of the Kindest’

As a social media junky I read a blog called Mashable on a daily basis, and often retweet and post articles of interest on my own Twitter (@blogdudes) and LinkedIn sites. Today, Mashable had an interesting article by Ann Charles called – 5 Social Media Tips for Better Corporate Social Responsibility -
For non social media types you might want to skip over this bit, but if you are part of a corporation looking for ways to increase your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) standing or goodwill, with both your current and potential customers, then you might want to stick around. For everyone else, check out the ‘Survival of the Kindest’ link below – I challenge anyone not to be blown away by what that study reveals!

Although UOWHO works mainly with nonprofit organizations – so far – Corporations should be aware of the potential of the branded versions of the UOWHO ‘kindness’ bracelets to create a very positive impact in terms of spreading awareness and participation in their particular CSR cause. Where the Mashable article was so interesting was in highlighting five ways social media can make that CSR effort even better.

“Thanks to a social media culture that reveres transparency and demands accountability, companies today are seen through the critical lens of the Triple Bottom Line: People, planet and profit.”

What was particularly interesting was that Yahoo’s ‘You In?‘ kindness initiative, which I talked about in an earlier post, was used as an example of how innovative uses of social media can have a huge impact in terms of reach. Those with an interest in CSR should definitely check out the article in full.

To me, what was even more impressive was the UC Berkeley study mentioned in the introduction to article and which underpinned the premise of how important Corporate Social Responsibility is becoming to corporations. Far from the idea that mankind is inherently selfish and that we live in a ‘every man for himself’ world, social scientists from UC Berkeley

“are building the case that humans are successful as a species precisely because of our nurturing, altruistic and compassionate traits. They call it ’survival of the kindest’.” (click here for the full Science Daily article).

Not only does the study suggest that our human capacity for caring and cooperation is hardwired into our genes, but that we individually acquire more influence and respect in proportion to how generous we are! Wow! Who’d have thunk?! And what a profound change in attitude from that of the 1980s and early 90s where the ‘dog eat dog’, “there’s no such thing as society” culture prevailed.

And here’s the kicker, UOWHO fans:

“Sympathy is indeed wired into our brains and bodies; and it spreads from one person to another through touch.”

If that doesn’t inspire you to encourage acts of kindness with a UOWHO ‘kindness’ bracelet then nothing will – for it is the act of passing your bracelet on and encouraging the recipient to do the same that is the real strength of the UOWHO concept -  now proved by science! Sort of – in a roundabout way . But the UOWHO ‘kindness’ bracelet does provide the individual with a physical reminder to look out for opportunities to help others, and encourages them to pay it forward through the physical exchange of the bracelet from giver to receiver.

Remember, each act of kindness may be small in itself, but the the collective impact of many small acts can create something huge and profound in the way we treat each other as fellow human beings. And it can all start with you.

A multi-colored pack of 8 UOWHO ‘kindness’ bracelets has the potential to encourage 80 acts of kindness and is only $8 - click here for our online store.