In many organizations, being "people-centered" is considered soft, irrelevant, and unrelated to profitability. Contemplate the Conscious Capitalism principles (i.e. conscious leadership, stakeholder orientation, conscious culture, and higher purpose) as a framework and consider at least two companies that have successfully adopted this business philosophy to gain success and combat traditional corporate approaches. How do these companies embody the tenet of "higher purpose" and create deeper meaning by focusing their goals beyond profits and inspiring their stakeholders? What connections can you identify between the four principles of Conscious Capitalism and the Christian concept of putting others before oneself?

Answer:

Container Store functions based on Conscious Capitalism principles wherein operating philosophy established in 1988 highly values and treats with respect their employees, customers and vendors. Furthermore company had held events such as “National We Love Our Employees Day.” Their sales staff earns around $50,000 per year which is more than twice the minimum wage.

Employee turnover rate is less than 20 percent and company is consistently been ranked highly in Fortune’s “Best 100 Companies to Work For.” Company gets engaged in local communities where their stores are located and organize varied list of events and fundraising programs that eventually facilitate supporting local organizations, charities and individuals in need.

Panera Bread company operational philosophy is indeed based on Conscious Capitalism principles wherein at the end of each business day company donates all leftover bread and baked goods to food banks and similar local charities. Furthermore it operates community cafes in US wherein it let customers pay only what they can afford or wish to pay. The community cafes operate as nonprofits separate from their traditional restaurants.

Conscious Capitalism principles eventually do facilitate forming a dynamic ever evolving integrated system. The basic connections that can be identified between the four principles of Conscious Capitalism and Christian concept of putting others before oneself indeed can be related with higher purpose wherein business that adheres to principles of Conscious Capitalism generally focuses on a purpose beyond pure profits and in doing so effectively inspires and engages its stakeholders.

Business eventually engages with multiple stakeholders such as consumers, employees, suppliers, investors etc. Furthermore some companies focus on return to their shareholders and in due course exclude everything else. However a conscious business would ultimately concentrate on the overall business ecosystem thus facilitating them in creating and optimizing value for all its stakeholders.

Conscious leaders generally emphasize on overall business drive and prosperity which eventually is aimed towards cultivating a culture of Conscious Capitalism in the enterprise. Conscious corporate culture is indeed regarded as sum of values and principles that ultimately facilitate in constituting the social and moral element of business. Furthermore facilitates infusing policies encouraging a spirit of trust and cooperation among all stakeholders.

Conscious Capitalism facilitates focusing on shareholder profit and adopting social responsibility which in due course provides significant benefits to consumers and investors. Furthermore the philosophy facilitates effective alignment of moral principles with corporate values. As per Nielsen's Global Survey on Corporate Social Responsibility approximately around 45% of consumers were willing to spend more for goods and services from companies that supported social causes.