Measuring Social Impact In CSR

My first communications hot take of 2025! 🔥 Traditional PR metrics are dead. Stop counting press releases. Stop tracking AVE. Stop chasing meaningless numbers that don't tell you anything or move the needle. These metrics are a relic of the past. If you're still using them, your strategy is falling behind. (And if your agency is serving up these metrics as proof of their impact, then it's time for a hard conversation.) 🤨 Here's what needs to go: ❌ "Number of press releases" is just vanity. Nope, press releases aren't a strategy—they're a tactic. Publishing isn't the same as reaching. ❌ "Volume of coverage" tells you nothing. A hundred mentions in low-tier outlets don’t compare to one strategic feature that influences decision-makers. ❌ AVE (Advertising Value Equivalency) is meaningless. This was never a meaningful metric. Did you spend that budget on ads? No? Then why measure it like one? It doesn’t capture influence or impact. ❌ "Total impressions" lacks context. Reaching the wrong audience 1M times = wasted effort. Context is important here. If it’s 1M impressions with your target audience that drives some meaningful outcomes—that’s your metric. ❌ "Social follower count" is shallow. Having 50K silent followers is cool and all, but give me 5K engaged people any day. Social is shifting from brand followers to people, making follower count even less relevant. . Here's what (I think) actually matters in 2025: ✴️ Narrative Share (think thought leadership, elevated) → Are you shaping how people think about key issues? → What percentage of relevant conversations include your POV? → Are you leading the narrative—or playing catch-up? ✴️ Share of Voice *Quality* (not just mentions) Focus on: → Authority & Impact: Topic leadership and decision-maker credibility → Message Effectiveness: Perception shifts and resonance → Business Value: Lead quality and customer story impact → Stakeholder Engagement: How key audiences interact and respond ✴️ Audience Journey → What happens *after* someone sees your message? → Do your efforts drive real behavior change? → How are stakeholders engaging, retaining messages, changing behavior, or taking action? ✴️ Community-Driven Influence (beyond basic engagement) → Are you building advocates or just awareness? → What's happening organically in your networks? → Is your community telling your story for you? 🤔 I'll be the first to admit that measuring these isn't "easy" or as simple as open rates. Measuring the metrics that actually matter in PR requires a *mix* of qualitative and quantitative approaches, and it means leaning into tools, methodologies, and frameworks that go beyond surface-level data. 🗣️ Bottom line (and something I've been saying for years): PR isn’t just about getting your name out there. It’s about influencing how people think, feel, and act—to drive business OUTCOMES. If your metrics don’t reflect that, it’s time to rethink them. 📈 What PR metrics are you focusing on in 2025?

As they say, you manage what you measure. So, what DO you measure? This simple framework helps create some clarity and make choices on what to measure and why. Every person and every organization wants results. This makes measuring and managing results a key aspect of business. Unfortunately, we’ve often seen it done wrong: too many, too few, too confusing, irrelevant, unmeasurable, or otherwise ineffective ways of measuring used to manage results. This is not surprising given the rich lexicon available to talk about measures: KPIs, targets, results, outputs, outcomes, measures, objectives, indicators, and so on, and so forth. To create some clarity (also for myself…), I’ve summarized what I think are the four main types of result that you want to measure and manage, and have put them together in a simple framework showing their relationship. The four types are: Effort-Based Measures Measuring whether sufficient and the right resources have been used to achieve what is intended → Key question: have we correctly spent the hours and budget? Activity-Based Measures Measuring whether people have done the right things at the right time to achieve what is intended → Key question: have we done what it takes to get the job done? Output-Based Measures:  Measuring whether the right deliverables have been created to achieve what is intended → Key question: did we generate the output we wanted? Outcome-Based Measures:  Measuring whether the right and intended effect and impact have been achieved → Key question: did we achieve the effect that we wanted? All four can be used in parallel and none of them is better than the other. They simply serve different purposes and are therefore used for different reasons. Therefore, to effectively manage results, you probably need a balanced set containing all four types of measure. How do you manage and measure results? #kpi  #impact  #managementdevelopment [Featured in The Strategic Leadership Playbook. Originally published in June, 2023] More of this? For 63 more tools like this, plus step-by-step instructions for using them, get The Strategic Leadership Playbook. See link in the comment below.

By now, the "95% failure rate" of GenAI financial returns (ref MIT's Project NANDA) is part of all consulting decks. The report blames the incorrect approach as the primary reason, rather than model maturity, etc. The key is to understand what #ROI metrics are used to determine the financial returns. I asked #Copilot on this, and here's what it told me: --- Here are three examples of ROI frameworks that enterprises are using to evaluate and scale GenAI adoption effectively: 1. Business Outcome-Based ROI Framework (Gartner) Summary: Gartner recommends aligning GenAI initiatives with measurable business outcomes such as cost reduction, revenue growth, or productivity gains. For example, a retail company using GenAI for automated product descriptions tracked a 22% increase in conversion rates and a 15% reduction in content creation costs. The framework emphasizes setting baseline metrics before deployment and tracking improvements post-implementation. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dER7cTeF 2. Time-to-Value and Efficiency Metrics (BCG) Summary: Boston Consulting Group suggests using time-to-value (TTV) and operational efficiency as key ROI indicators. In one case, a logistics firm used GenAI to optimize routing, reducing delivery times by 18% and fuel costs by 12%. BCG’s framework includes pre/post comparisons, automation impact, and employee productivity metrics to quantify GenAI’s contribution. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/da2zcSfW 3. Model Performance vs. Business KPIs (McKinsey) Summary: McKinsey advocates for linking GenAI model performance directly to business KPIs. For instance, a financial services firm used GenAI for customer support automation and tracked resolution time, customer satisfaction scores, and call deflection rates. The framework includes continuous monitoring of model accuracy, relevance, and business impact. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dA6zEGuS 🔑 Key Message Summary Effective GenAI ROI frameworks combine technical performance metrics with business impact indicators. Leading approaches include tracking cost savings, productivity gains, time-to-value, and alignment with strategic KPIs. Enterprises that define success upfront and monitor outcomes continuously are more likely to scale GenAI successfully. --- The direction taken seems to be well-intentioned. However, the measure of success is not quite what might lead to real solid business outcomes! Individual productivity improvements are just that! They don't scale across the organization unless "vertically scaled" top-to-down an entire process delivering bottomline improvements, which then need to be further "horizontally scaled" end-to-end across the entire value chain of the firm to deliver topline value! My forthcoming book on Cognitive Chasm provides actionable guidance to practitioners on this.

Are you measuring what matters in your organization? A comprehensive measure of organizational effectiveness includes much more than profit margins and growth rates. The market and media often celebrate companies that show rapid financial growth or high profitability, leading to a cultural bias towards these metrics as signs of success BUT the tide is slowly turning- more businesses are recognizing the long-term value of a holistic approach to effectiveness and success. Many more businesses are embracing the concept of the "Triple Bottom Line," which measures success not just by financial profit ("Profit"), but also by the company's impact on people ("People") and the planet ("Planet"). HOWEVER 🚨 There is more work to be done! The prioritization of non-financial elements of organizational success can get pushed aside when financial pressures hit or quick results are valued. You have probably heard the phrase "What gets measured gets managed". This is generally true. Quantifying and measuring non-financial aspects of effectiveness, such as employee well-being, social impact, and workplace culture, is hugely important but remains challenging. 💡 Here's some straightforward steps to move you towards a more holistic approach to measuring success: 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬: Define what holistic success means for your organization. This could include specific targets related to employee well-being, social impact, and environmental sustainability. 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬: Talk to employees, customers, and community members to understand what aspects of your business matter most to them. Their insights can help shape your holistic success framework. 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐬: Based on your goals and stakeholder feedback, pick metrics that are meaningful and manageable. For example, employee satisfaction can be measured through regular surveys, while environmental impact can be tracked through energy consumption or waste reduction metrics. 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬: Look into established frameworks (like GRI or B Corp standards for sustainability; Gallups Q12 Engagement Survey for employee engagement or the Denison Organizational Culture Model to measure workplace culture). There are existing frameworks for most known elements of organizational effectiveness so it's just a matter of looking into them. 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧-𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠: Ensure that these holistic metrics are part of regular business reviews and decision-making processes, not just side projects. 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲: Share your progress openly, including both successes and areas for improvement. Transparency builds trust and credibility. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: Be prepared to adapt and refine your approach as you learn what works and what doesn't. This is a journey, not a one-time task. #organizationaleffectiveness #measurewhatmatters #leaders

ESG Impact Framework 🌍 This framework developed by Sustainalytics is a solid reference to understand how sustainability performance connects to strategy, governance, and measurable outcomes. It aligns with the idea that effective ESG integration requires structure, clarity, and data that inform decision-making across the organization. Leadership and collaboration stand at the core, reflecting how collective action and transparent governance drive real progress. Climate Action underscores the role of innovation, science-based targets, and operational transformation in maintaining business competitiveness. Healthy Ecosystems reminds that economic resilience depends on the stability of natural systems and the protection of biodiversity. Resource Security captures how efficient production and responsible consumption contribute to risk management and long-term viability. Basic Needs integrates access to health, water, and nutrition as essential components of sustainable growth and social stability. Human Development links inclusion, education, and decent work with innovation capacity and workforce resilience. Each theme is tied to the Sustainable Development Goals, helping companies align global priorities with business value creation. This perspective reinforces how sustainability should be integrated into governance and performance systems, not treated as a parallel agenda. It is consistent with the principle that measurable impact is the foundation for credibility and long-term trust. Frameworks like this help organizations use sustainability as a decision-making filter that connects purpose, performance, and accountability.

The One Metric I Trust Most on LinkedIn Over three years on LinkedIn, I’ve tracked every community metric I could: week to week, month to month, year over year. I’ve analyzed trends, looked for forward vs. lagging indicators, and tried to understand what truly drives growth. At first, I focused on top-line metrics - like impressions. Then engagements. But the best predictor of long-term success - the one metric I now trust most - is something few people even check: Members Reached (formerly Unique Impressions). If you go into your post analytics, LinkedIn shows you not just impressions but how many unique people saw your content. And I’ve found that growth in this number is the strongest signal that I’m on the right path. Why? Engagements fluctuate. A viral post, a trending topic, or a high-emotion moment can skew the numbers. Many people who value my content don’t engage. Senior professionals, in particular, often prefer to observe rather than publicly interact. Some folks just, increasingly, value anonymity and will discuss seeing my posts but never engage. Members Reached can’t be hidden. Unlike engagements, which depend on visible likes or comments, this metric quietly tracks how many real people are seeing what you share. Metrics should never drive your content - you should create what matters to you. But if you’re looking for a true measure of reach and impact, start paying attention to Members Reached. For me, it’s been the clearest predictor of whether the community will grow - or not - down the road.

𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗥𝗢𝗜. Treat it like any other asset lever and the dials move - 𝗱𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹, 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘀, 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲. My new ROI Issue shows how to measure it like we mean it. For years it sat in “nice-to-have.” The data — and practice — say otherwise. In the new ROI Issue of Culture Plus I share: 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱: Brookfield Place — 𝟭𝟬𝟬+ 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀/𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿, ~𝟱𝟬𝟬𝗸 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀/𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 (~𝟮𝟲𝗺/𝘆𝗿) and office 𝟵𝟳% 𝗼𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘆; a lobby that helps lease the building. 𝟯 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘀: Activation vs baseline; sentiment with a spine (WELLBY); planning alignment map. 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶-𝗱𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱: Financial, ESG/Social Value (TOMs/HACT/Green Book), Place, Risk. 𝗨𝗞 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀: £𝟯𝟯 𝗽𝗲𝗿 £𝟭 (Edinburgh Festivals), £𝟴𝟵𝟮.𝟵𝗺 + £𝟭𝟮𝟮.𝟰𝗺 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 (Bristol), £𝟮𝟰𝟱𝗺 HSHAZ benefits. 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁, 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻: 𝗚𝗮𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 — curated meanwhile use → £𝟮𝟰𝟱𝗸 social value; curation → engagement → social value → reputation. 👉 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 and tell me: 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 — 𝗱𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹, 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘀, 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼-𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿 %, 𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆? Urban Land Institute Creative Land Trust HACT Social Value Portal #CulturalROI #Placemaking #RealEstate #SocialValue

I’ve led 8+ major transformations. €7+ billion in combined revenue. Every company had values posters and vision decks. But the real metrics that matter are these: 👉 Do 80% of decisions happen behind closed doors? 👉 Does psychological safety score below 60% in employee surveys? 👉 Are <15% of people willing to challenge leadership in meetings? In one $400M transformation, we tracked the shift: when leaders started rewarding dissent instead of punishing it, psychological safety scores jumped 40%. The measurable impact? Decision speed increased 2x. Project delivery improved 35%. Voluntary turnover dropped by half. At a global packaging leader, this shift visibly drove growth momentum that was measurable in one year. At a multinational snacking company, it enabled 20% CAGR in emerging markets and delivered $50M incremental revenue. Culture isn’t a communication plan. It’s behavior you can measure and change. 💡 What’s one metric that would expose your organization’s real culture? #Culture #Leadership #Transformation #People #Strategy

🧩 How can we harness data to accelerate development? 👉The question of how data—and particularly data reuse—can advance development outcomes isn’t new. But with the growing urgency of unlocking data for public interest AI, it’s gaining renewed attention. 👉 As such, resharing my chapter in the OECD’s Development Co-operation Report, titled “Reusing Data Responsibly to Achieve Development Goals.” 📖 Full chapter: https://lnkd.in/eB4ShuJ4 🔍 In the chapter, I explore: ✅ How data collaboratives can help overcome data inequality and generate actionable insights; ✅ Why governance frameworks are essential to ensure trust, privacy, and accountability in data reuse; ✅ The need for new talent, tools, and institutions—including data stewards—to operationalize responsible data sharing; ✅ And how a "science of questions" can guide demand-driven data collaboration and development impact. 📊 From mapping illiteracy in Senegal to directing humanitarian aid in Haiti, the chapter features real-world examples of data being repurposed for the public good. But for such practices to scale, we must invest in the right partnerships, safeguards, and capacity. And as we are entering the era of AI, we need to advance data commons that can pool new types of data in alignment with expectations and preferences of communities. #DataForDevelopment #DataCollaboratives #DigitalGovernance #SocialImpact #OECD #ResponsibleData #DataReuse #GovLab #StefaanVerhulst #AI4Good #DevelopmentCooperation #DigitalTransformation #OpenData #DataStewards

Everyone’s talking about impact. But very few know how to measure it. As someone who works closely with businesses—from early-stage startups to growing SMEs—I see this struggle all the time: ❌ “We want to be more sustainable but don’t know where to start.” ❌ “We don’t have the time or budget to hire a consultant.” ❌ “We’re doing things right... we think. But how do we prove it?” The good news? You don’t need a full sustainability team to get started. Here are 3 powerful FREE tools I recommend all the time to clients and founders I mentor: 🔹 B Impact Assessment (BIA) The most widely used tool to evaluate your company’s social and environmental performance. It covers everything from how you treat your employees to how you engage with your community and manage your environmental footprint. It also sets you on the path to becoming a B Corp—but even if that’s not your goal, it gives you a clear benchmark to improve. 👉 Learn More: https://lnkd.in/ddwJ6hXH 🔹 SDG Action Manager Developed by B Lab and the UN Global Compact, this tool connects your operations to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It helps you assess your impact across topics like gender equality, decent work, and climate action, while giving you guidance on where to go next. A great tool if you want to align your strategy with global goals. 👉 Learn More: https://lnkd.in/d8Nvqrw4 🔹 SME Climate Hub Designed specifically for small businesses, this tool helps you measure and reduce your carbon emissions. It guides you step by step to set a credible net-zero commitment and access action plans and reporting templates. Backed by the UN Race to Zero initiative—it’s perfect if you want to show real climate leadership. 👉 Learn More: https://lnkd.in/dKivEaRi 🛠 These tools aren't just checklists. They help you turn good intentions into strategy, and strategy into impact. 💬 Have you used any of them? Curious to hear what’s worked for you—or what’s still unclear. #ImpactMeasurement #Sustainability #SDGs #SMEClimateHub #ClimateAction #BCorp #PurposeDrivenBusiness #MENAImpact