Conservative hosts

Measure This is the starting point. Start asking questions and find quantitative answers.

Goals What are your company’s performance goals? These should tie to what you measure. They should reflect your customers’ expectations.

Document Develop a written action plan. Ideally the drafting of this plan incorporates input from management, associates, suppliers and customers.

Publish This is a key transparency step. Publish your plan for all to see.

Audit Authenticity requires a second set of eyes auditing how what you are doing aligns with what you have published as your goals and action plans.

Report This is the defining act of authenticity. Tell everyone, most especially your board of directors, investors, work-associates and customers. This report should be very candid on your performance status compared to your plan and your competitors.

Bill Roth is the founder of Earth 2017. He is author of The Secret Green Sauce that profiles case studies of business best practices that make money. Through the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation Green Builds Business program he has coached hundreds of business owners across the United States on their design of green projects that have grown sales, landed new customers and increased profitability by reducing emissions.

image: Micki Krimmel (some rights reserved)