A Framework for a Successful ESG Program Launch

Having been on the inside looking out and on the outside looking in at ESG programs has made me a quick study of a program’s strengths and weaknesses.

Your management can trust that a robust program is not just a cost center but a driver for innovation, efficiencies, and value creation. 

On a continuing basis, all successful programs require these four steps:  Assess the current state, evaluate strategy and road map, execute to plan, and report results.

Assess

Take stock of where you are now. Capture what your organization is already doing. What data are already being captured? What are the internal and external resources available? What are the challenges? What is motivating leadership? How do you stack up relative to peers? Who are your key stakeholders? What are the emerging trends and new developments in compliance that will affect you?

Plan

Take the time to plan properly. Given your current state, what is a  realistic path forward? What are the resources and well-defined objectives for your program? How do you build a strong foundation for your program's future growth and maturation? Have you prioritized steps for the current reporting period and for the future?

Are deadlines appropriately set with adequate funding? What expectations need to be managed in the near term? The long term? What information is important to your various stakeholders? Are you capturing all that your organization is doing? Is your action plan clear, achievable, and aligned to move your current program to the next stage of maturity?

Execute

Manage the execution of the plan according to a well-defined scope. Have clear tasks, assigned responsibility, detailed project management, measurable outcomes, and accountability.

Report

Craft the narrative and communicate the results. Is there the right level of transparency? Does the narrative tell a compelling story and demonstrate the organization’s sustainability commitment? Is the narrative expressed in one brand-appropriate voice throughout the company’s financial reporting, internal and external communications, and marketing? Is the information easy to find? What is the approval process for the report? How do you communicate progress to leadership?

An ESG program is complex, ever-evolving, and touches every part of a company’s stakeholder ecosystem. The planning, implementation, and reporting process does not have to be complex. Keeping it as simple as possible while still being thoughtful and thorough will ensure a healthy, dynamic, and successful program.