An increasing number of businesses and some nonprofit organizations are applying a multiple bottom line set of goals rather than focusing solely on one category, which tends to be either financial performance for businesses or social goals for nonprofits. All types of organizations need at least these two categories. In recent years many societies around the world are discussing environmental care. Companies are increasingly including environmental-related goals in their planning.
For Christians there is a fourth category – spiritual goals. This category can include mentoring employees, sharing the Gospel message with customers and suppliers in a gentle and sensitive manner, supporting local ministry and mission efforts, and supporting employee efforts to help local communities. As you think about spiritual goals, these can easily integrate with the other three categories in a holistic manner.
I am sometimes asked about how to handle situations where resources or social settings may create a conflict between these goals. This is where a sense of mature leadership skills and experience come into play. Often there is no easy or obvious answer to balancing goals when they are in tension. For example, an entrepreneur may take a Bible-based stance on protecting lives of unborn children, elderly adults and disabled people. This might cause a loss of some customers and suppliers. If the result is too steep a drop in revenue the business might be forced to close, or at least retrench. In this example, some entrepreneurs who faced similar situations took the extra time and effort to carefully convey their message in a manner most people in their communities could relate to, similar to how the apostle Paul modified his approach with the Greek gentiles on the Acropolis versus his usual messaging style among Jews, yet without retreating from God’s message.
Note that Paul had a multiple bottom line set of goals. The spiritual goals dominated his work, but as an enterprising tent maker business owner he also was concerned with financial goals to sustain his work, and social goals in some cases that helped open minds and hearts.
2 replies on “Quadruple Bottom Line Goals”
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