What Does Conscientious Leadership Mean in a Benefit Corporation?
Conscientious Leadership is one of the 8 standards BCFG uses to certify a business. At its core, it asks a simple question: does leadership practice what it preaches?
What this standard evaluatesWhat this standard evaluates
BCFG looks for businesses that practice transparency with customers, vendors, partners, and team members, paired with honest, ethical management. In practice, that shows up as:
Servant leadership leading by supporting your team, not just directing it
Authentic, equity-centered operations
A genuine willingness to learn from mistakes
Following through on commitments, internally and externally
Actively empowering team members rather than just delegating tasks
Why it matters
A mission statement is easy to write. This standard exists because BCFG wants to see leadership behavior that actually backs it up. It’s the kind of leadership that team members and customers notice whether or not it’s ever written down.
Where does BCFG fit?
Conscientious Leadership is one expression of BCFG’s Triple Bottom Line, specifically the “people” side of people, planet, and profit. It’s the standard most directly about how a business treats the humans who are part of it.
This standard isn’t Oregon specific. The same expectations around transparency and ethical management apply to applicants certifying in any state.
Ready to learn more?
See how this standard fits with the other 7 on the certification standards overview, or head straight to certification to apply. Members of the BCFG community are a good resource if you want examples of how other small businesses have documented this standard.
Ready to learn more?
See the why and the how for becoming an Oregon Benefit Company, or learn what criteria BCFG certification is based upon.