here - Tamarack CCI
here - Tamarack CCI
here - Tamarack CCI
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Does the company have a history of community involvement, especially in the areas that<br />
your initiative intends to address? Companies that are active in the community are usually<br />
receptive to new ideas and opportunities for involvement.<br />
Does the company have a good<br />
reputation? Generally you will want to<br />
avoid associating your initiative with a<br />
company that is generating negative press<br />
or one that has an unfavourable<br />
reputation in the community. You will<br />
also want to avoid associating with a<br />
company whose involvement is insincere,<br />
and is using your initiative to divert<br />
attention from other activities that you<br />
disagree with.<br />
<br />
Is this the right time to be approaching<br />
this company? A downturn in a particular<br />
market, company downsizing, plant<br />
closings, recent merger activity and<br />
business restructuring may all affect<br />
certain companies on your prospect list.<br />
Prepare your Script<br />
In the process of completing the checklists in<br />
the first five steps of this resource, you have<br />
already created a compelling case for<br />
corporate involvement. Now you will want to<br />
use that checklist to create the “pitch” points<br />
that you will use to encourage business<br />
participation. A few things to remember<br />
about this step are:<br />
<br />
Be sure your script includes:<br />
o Some opening conversation<br />
o Your vision for transformation<br />
o The role you would like the<br />
business to play<br />
o The opportunity that is being<br />
presented to the business: what<br />
might it gain?<br />
<br />
<br />
Tips for Business Recruitment<br />
Business recruitment takes time. It is<br />
not unusual for months of calls and<br />
information exchange to take place before<br />
a business responds with a definitive<br />
answer. Speed can kill this process. “A<br />
slow yes is far better than a fast no.” Your<br />
patience and persistence will pay off.<br />
You are presenting an opportunity.<br />
Your initiative is not part of their business<br />
plan – it will be up to you to sell the<br />
opportunity to the business.<br />
Passion and commitment sell. Be<br />
enthusiastic about your program and the<br />
opportunity to work with the business<br />
community. Your passion and commitment<br />
will help recruit companies.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Relationships count – a lot. The most<br />
successful and long-term alliances are the<br />
ones that are built over time and involve a<br />
real relationship between the respective<br />
organizations.<br />
Companies want to make a difference<br />
– to have an impact. Use your evidence<br />
to demonstrate that your initiative will help<br />
them do that.<br />
Companies want to be a part of a<br />
commitment to excellence. They will not<br />
knowingly become involved in confusion,<br />
mediocrity or inefficiency. It will be<br />
important to demonstrate professionalism<br />
and effectiveness.<br />
Companies respond more powerfully<br />
to visions of the future than to<br />
“repairing” the past. Emphasize the<br />
“transformation” that will occur through<br />
your initiative, with a brief reference to<br />
how you will achieve it.<br />
o How your collaboration can help the business to realize the gains<br />
o The evidence you have that such gains are possible<br />
o A n invitation for the business to ask questions<br />
Collaborating with Business for Social Transformation<br />
- 23 -