Key Takeaways
- Stakeholder engagement is a top priority for Corporate Affairs leaders, who see it as central to their role in navigating complexity and risk.
- But sustainability experts remain skeptical about stakeholder management’s effectiveness in driving meaningful sustainability impact, highlighting the need for better engagement approaches.
- Corporate Affairs professionals believe that direct, authentic dialogue builds trust best, with in-person interactions seen as more impactful than digital or AI-enabled engagement.
Recent research by GlobeScan and the Corporate Affairs Academy at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, finds that stakeholder engagement now ranks among the top five priorities for Corporate Affairs professionals. At the same time, GlobeScan’s Sustainability at a Crossroads study reveals that many sustainability experts do not see stakeholder management as a highly effective lever for advancing sustainability. This disconnect highlights a critical challenge: how can engagement be redefined to deliver both trust and meaningful sustainability outcomes?
Corporate Affairs practitioners surveyed identify the most innovative ways to build trust with diverse groups as a return to the fundamentals, especially with stakeholders who are skeptical and critical: direct, in-person engagement and open dialogue, followed by clear communication and transparency. While digital tools and AI are part of the mix, they are viewed as less powerful than authentic, human-centered approaches.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
In a world of eroding trust and rising stakeholder expectations, organizations must focus on the quality of stakeholder engagement. By combining the relationship-building expertise of Corporate Affairs with the issues leadership of sustainability teams, companies can elevate engagement to a driver of both credibility and impact. This means investing time in face-to-face dialogue to co-create solutions with stakeholders directly and in person to ensure that engagement not only builds and maintains trust but also contributes to tangible sustainability progress.
GlobeScan’s recent webinar showcased key findings from our sixth annual Oxford-GlobeScan Global Corporate Affairs Survey Report, providing fresh insights into trends, challenges, and opportunities in the field. A recording of the session is available here.
Survey Question: What innovative methods are you using to build or maintain trust with diverse groups, especially skeptical and critical stakeholders?
