What are the best practices for engaging with companies on ESG issues?

Clearly define what you want to achieve, such as improved transparency, policy changes, or addressing specific issues. Use project management best practices like the SMART framework to set Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals. Establish KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) to track progress and RACI charts to clarify roles and responsibilities during the engagement process. Create a communication plan to set expectations, milestones, and monitoring mechanisms to ensure a structured and focused approach for maximum impact.

Idea: Foster constructive dialogue on ESG issues with businesses. Understand their ESG priorities to tailor your approach. Use concrete data to demonstrate the impact of ESG actions. Co-create solutions aligned with their values and goals.

What’s your endgame? If you don’t know, you’re setting yourself up for a game of corporate charades. Are you nudging them to spill more info? Hoping they’ll change a policy, practice, or mindset? Whatever it is, be crystal clear. Ambiguity helps no one. Define your goal. Decide how you'll measure it. If it’s a policy shift, ask: “How will I know when it actually changes?” 🔹 Monitor 🔹 Check-in 🔹 Follow-up No one reads mind. Communicate your expectations early. The clearer your objectives, the sharper your strategy. Vague goals = vague results.

Start by conducting a detailed business case analysis of the company’s model, strategy, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to understand its performance, risks, and opportunities. Leverage tools like SWOT analysis to assess and use benchmarking to compare the company against industry peers. This data-driven approach will allow you to identify the most material ESG issues, ensuring your engagement is relevant and aligned with strategic objectives. Incorporating third-party assessments and ratings provides external validation and adds robustness to your analysis. By using stakeholder analysis and project management methodologies, you ensure a targeted, results-oriented approach to ESG engagement that drives measurable impact.

Idea: Effectively engage with businesses on ESG issues. Clarify your goals: Set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) expectations. Do your research: Review ESG reports, strategies, and benchmarks to tailor your approach. Offer concrete solutions: Use data to co-create actionable and measurable plans.

Idea: Choose appropriate methods for effective ESG engagement. Use formal or informal channels: letters, meetings, or webinars depending on the audience. Leverage collective tools like resolutions or voting rights to amplify impact. Tailor your approach to the company's influence level and priorities.

Building relationships in business is akin to constructing a campfire. You can’t just throw on wood and expect it to burn forever. You have to keep feeding it, poking it, and staying warm by it. Talk: ☑️ Management ☑️ Board ☑️ Staff And not just when there’s an issue. Stay in touch. Share your wins and listen to theirs. Trust comes from regular, honest chats, not one-time showdowns. And no one likes a critic who only points out flaws. Celebrate progress. Offer feedback like you’d offer a snack. Kindly, without tossing it at their face. Stay consistent, stay real, and remember: no one trusts a ghost.

Idea: Build strong relationships for effective ESG dialogue. Establish regular communication with executives and key stakeholders. Practice active listening and respect their challenges and perspectives. Acknowledge their progress while offering constructive improvement suggestions.

Engagement isn't just about making waves. It's about making progress. 🔘 Did your efforts succeed? 🔘 Did they miss? Evaluate. Reflect: 🔘 The wins 🔘 The hiccups 🔘 The unexpected surprises Reporting doesn’t mean writing a novel. Share insights... the good, the awkward, and the "let's not do that again" moments. Why? Because growth thrives on honest reflection. Your next strategy should be: 🔘 Sharper 🔘 Smarter 🔘 More you. Engage. Learn. Adapt. Then do it all over again, but better.

The evaluation and reporting phase is critical for continuous improvement. Engagement on ESG issues is no different—it’s essential to assess your activities, outcomes, and overall impact. Use performance metrics and KPIs to evaluate whether you've achieved your objectives, identifying any gaps or challenges. Conduct a post-project review or lessons learned session to capture key insights, successes, and areas for growth. This process not only enhances internal accountability but also ensures transparency with external stakeholders through clear, data-backed reporting. Documenting outcomes helps refine your future engagement strategies and informs decision-making, ensuring continuous improvement and alignment with ESG goals.

Evaluate and learn from ESG engagement activities. Assess your results by comparing set goals with achievements. Document challenges, opportunities, and lessons to refine your strategies. Share insights with your team and stakeholders to enhance future actions.