Best selling author Simon Sinek has challenged us to imagine a world where people wake up every day inspired to go to work, free from the negative thoughts that dominate much of the discussion about corporations’ impacts on the world.

The truth is that there are a number of organisations out there whose workers safely return home at the end of the day feeling fulfilled by the work they do, knowing that they have contributed to something greater than themselves. If only, Sinek laments, more people could know “Why” they worked – the purpose, cause, or belief that inspires them to do what they do.

Millions of board members, managers, staff and volunteers of charities, not-for-profits, B (Benefit) corporations, co-operatives, social enterprises, faith-based enterprises, community and social services – just to name a few – are both inspired by and committed to the “why” of their organisations.

If only these people were as visible as all the negative press surrounding those that make mistakes. Maybe then we would all better appreciate just how many people do what they do for a cause and no applause as they help the world address its increasing social problems.

With global threats such as overpopulation, climate change, limited resources and many more man-made social, political, economic and environmental calamities, it is becoming increasingly obvious that there is a growing greater need to care for both our world and one another.

Governments can’t do it all – nor should we expect them to

We shouldn’t have to rely on governments to manage various social concerns on their own, especially considering how many people are impacted by the actions of major business. Think about how many people the average multinational employs, and then how many buy or use its products as well.

The relentless pursuit of bottom line at the expense of social consequences is becoming more and more callous and dangerous. In many cases it’s also seen to be an offensive pursuit in the face of global inequalities. This doesn’t necessarily mean that organisations should feel embarrassed by financial success, unless, of course, they aren’t having the same success in their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

CSR programs are a good start for businesses looking to make a difference, but they are typically the first thing trimmed or abandoned in the face of falling profits owed to owner and investors. But this is not sustainable, as Dr Rosabeth Moss Kanter from Harvard once said that in the future, all organisations will need to justify their place in society. Finally, it seems as though the world is starting to witness this trend, especially as consumers and job seekers willingly desert businesses that ignore purpose for the sake of cold blooded profit taking.

We need more focus on purpose than profit

It’s up to leaders to bring the focus on purpose to the forefront of an organisation. They need to find a good way of doing business and a business-like way of doing good.

According to Raj Sisodia, the American marketing professor and author of Firms of Endearment, this is achievable without major shifts from established business models and wider economic structures. He coined the term “conscious capitalism”, which seeks to engage business leaders in their roles as custodians of corporate strategy and governance. It encourages them to re-evaluate their approach to the pursuit of profit making and move toward the achievement of a higher purpose for their business.

Among the companies Mr Sisodia studied, leaders take home lower pay, do more mentoring and often grow up in the company, usually seeing themselves as servants of a community that is wider than their employees. This then expands to also include suppliers, customers, society and the environment.

The shared value movement is also a welcome respite. It’s where organisations pursue economic benefits by identifying and addressing social problems that intersect with their business, which works to create a purpose beyond simply making a profit.

First “defined” by Porter and Kramer from Harvard in 2011, shared value has gone onto become a framework that creates new opportunities for companies, governments and wider society. Through it, these groups can leverage the power of market-based competition when addressing social problems. Ideally, this then leads to the delivery of social value through improved healthcare, education, community participation and employment.

Redefining a successful business

B (Benefit Corporations) are also a more recent and growing community around the world of industries and organisations working toward one unifying goal: to redefine success in business. Ultimately, their goal is to use the power of business to create a positive impact on the world and generate a shared and durable prosperity for all.

It’s a similar story for Co-operatives and Mutuals, which have been around for centuries and are arguably the original and real deal. They are organised to serve the needs of stakeholders as members – both as a structural requirement and an entitlement. They cannot forget their core purpose of service – a desire to improve the lives of members and the communities in which they operate. More importantly, members have a voice and a role in decision making and electing those who govern the organisation.

The global social entrepreneurship movement is another approach to business that combines for-profit initiatives and not-for-profit ideals. For social entrepreneurs, creating businesses means not only to succeed but to change the world for the better. Social entrepreneurs tend to pursue social goals because they have strong personal convictions and belief in a particular cause that overlaps with an identified business opportunity. Whilst social entrepreneurs might leverage their unique values and skills for market advantage, they are pursuing social goals on their own merit rather than as a means to an end.

Does your existence make the world a better place?

If an organisation isn’t doing all it can to make the world a better place, whose job is it to step in and make sure that it is? It’s the board and the senior leadership team’s – as human beings, such considerations are an intensely personal matter.

We should be challenging ourselves to answer the same question, because poor governance and leadership has consequences on society not just shareholders. Arguably, the only real way the world can address these challenges is if it has more like-minded business and community leaders seeking to play their role as a force for social good, with a restless social consciousness that acknowledges multiple forms of value – social, cultural, emotional, spiritual, intellectual – and financial.

The world is a better place due to the millions of people who love to do what they do for their cause and no applause.

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As a mentor at The Executive Connection (TEC) I assemble and facilitate private group meetings for CEOs, senior executives and business owners. Members participate in monthly, Chair-led private group meetings. Our global network has more than 21,000 members in 16 countries that also have access to one-to-one executive mentoring, expert speakers, and a global network of business leaders. Click here to find out more.