Market engagement around sustainability a face-to-face exercise, asserts leader
“You do strike the odd person – it’s a bit like hitting a brick wall - it doesn't really appeal to them but if you take
the time to talk to (most) customers and your staff about what it is you're trying to do…there's genuine interest,”
contends Mark Roberts, Group GM of Alsco New Zealand (formerly NZTS). Roberts is currently appearing in his third
contribution to this year’s Leaders Review leadership media initiative, the short-form video, “Sustainability - Market Engagement.”
“It takes time to build any culture but what I'm finding with employees and customers is that, in general, they really
like that sort of approach,” claims Roberts.
“I've had many a conversation where I've made some time to talk to a customer for half an hour - that extends to an hour
because they're genuinely interested in what you're talking about.”
In 2016, Roberts initiated a program where at least twenty percent of all senior executives’ time, including his own as
Group GM, needed to be spent on ‘facetime’ directly with customers.
One of the by-products of the close contact program has been the opportunity this year for officers to outline the
company’s own recently revamped sustainability strategy. In earlier commentaries he characterised the new initiative as
being made up of “three pillars” (people, planet and prosperity) with all three symbiotically supportive and necessary
to uphold a genuine ‘sustainability value-add’ amongst wider stakeholders.
“I think storytelling is important for any business - particularly if you've got a really good story to tell. Why keep
it a secret?…People want to know.”
“It not only tells the people who work for you something about the company they work for,” he adds, “but also gives a
really good flavour to (the) conversations you have with customers.”
“It takes (those) conversations to a different level.”
What: Leaders Review Focus Points (2018). Short-form video series of public service messages for business by invited New
Zealand business leaders (televised and online).
Where/When: Leaders Review’s series of week-long, signature TVC spots, as they appear throughout the year, just before
the 7AM National News bulletins on TV3’s AM Show. Also short-form videos on demand at LeadersReview.co.nz including all invited leaders’ breakout editions.
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