Recently I “spent” two days with the Dalai Lama at the EngageNow conference in Calgary, Alberta. Hosted by the University of Calgary, the focus of the event was to inspire and create active participation in local communities throughout that city.

I was asked to speak at the conference, joining a global roster including F.W. de Klerk, Sir Richard Branson, Stephen Covey and His Holiness. Certainly I was honored to join such accomplished individuals. “When will I speak?” I asked the event organizers. “Directly following the Dalai Lama.” Humbled and curious, I inquired, “Why?” The answer was that they felt my life’s work and message about the power of business authentically embracing social issues would provide a perfect bridge for the audience.

A request like that causes one to deeply reflect. I reviewed my work spanning over 25 years guiding companies to genuinely embrace social issues. Our clients approached this strategy quite personally. Paul Fireman at Reebok, Jim Preston at Avon, Bruce Rohde at ConAgra, and more recently, Clarence Otis at Darden, Jim Rohr at PNC, Christina Gold at Western Union and Steve Loranger of ITT. Each desired to authentically and sustainably engage with a cause. Intuitively they knew this could be a powerful way to inspire employees, engage more fully with customers while enhancing their reputation and make a social impact.

In each case, the work with these companies resulted in innovative and long-term commitments to many causes, new awareness and increased funding, with each showing significant results. The issues and approaches varied: human rights, breast cancer, childhood hunger, youth enrichment, economic opportunity for migrants and access to clean water. While each CEO explained his or her vision in a different manner, they all had one thing in common: compassion.

Compassion? Frankly, in the years of our work, I never thought of it as the expression of compassion. That is, until I “spent” two days with this self-proclaimed “simple monk.”

Indeed, I had to ask myself, “Could business be compassionate?”

The Dalai Lama has a broad definition of compassion: “We are the same human beings. I want a happy life. You want a happy life. On that level we can work together and make a common effort for a better world,” he said in Calgary. He continued, “True happiness comes from a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood … We need to cultivate universal responsibility for one another and the planet we share … We all share a common humanity, no matter what country, young or old, rich or poor.”

His Holiness made a critical point just before I followed him onstage, “Trust is the basis of harmony.” I was thankful for that timely comment because, despite hours and hours of practice, I was not totally sure how I would open my speech. Trust, actually the lack thereof, is one of the primary reasons why business must embrace social issues, and it was the first point I had planned to discuss. Trust, I said, is absolutely critical in order to earn a daily license to operate, to attract and retain the best employees, to relate to today’s ever more skeptical consumers, communities, NGOs and government officials.

Carol shaking hands with the Dalai Lama

As he left the stage, His Holiness came into the crowd where I stood. I was so fortunate to briefly meet him. He grasped my hand for what seemed like an eternity and looked into my eyes. I mentioned I was next onstage to talk about business and compassion. I think he smiled. It all happened so fast.

As I took to the stage, my goal of meeting His Holiness was accomplished. I had met, indeed grasped hands, with perhaps the most humble and serene individual in the world. His message of universal responsibility deeply touched my core. It was an experience that will reinforce my passion and commitment to inspiring and creating sustainable and authentic public-private partnerships for years to come.

- Carol Cone

Comments

John Bentz	October 6, 2009 9:32 PM Thank you for this, Carol. What a tremendous, once-a-lifetime experience! In the course of our work, I sometimes wonder if we overengineer and overthink our strategy and processes. But, the Dalai Lama's concept of trust being the basis of harmony is simplicity itself. And, as you point out, trust is the single (perhaps sole) reason that businesses will thrive attract the best employees and build bonds with their stakeholders. Perhaps it's the time to reduce our thinking to the most simple and authentic kernel.
Julie Roehm	October 7, 2009 11:00 AM Thank you Carol. This must have been a transformational experience and your insight on trust and business is spot on. I just did an interview on the Guru Nation about the transition from corporate to entrepreneur and commented that I felt that entrepreneurs were more willing and likely to help one another than the corporate employees. It is not that one is good and the other is bad, it is just a mind set and a shared set of circumstances that lead to the lending hand approach. That trust and sharing have added happiness to my life.:)
Carol cone	October 7, 2009 7:08 PM John -- Thanks. It was an amazing and wonderful experience. Other things that he said that hit the mark: In an interdependent world, my future depends on your future. Thus we have responsibility for each other and the best means to express that is through compassion, which can be expressed in caring for others. In doing that, one finds true happiness.
carol cone	October 7, 2009 7:13 PM Julie -- I agree that entrepreneurs seem to embed a more caring attitude in many of their companies, especially from the beginning. Their challenge is to nuture that investment as the enterprise grows. Within the "new normal" of our world today, we are seeing new seeds of innovation and caring in large companies too. Perhaps because it is in their vested interested to develop new products and new markets, but it is a more positive development nonetheless.
Diane Solinger	October 8, 2009 6:44 PM Carol---trust seems to be in the forefront of most people's minds now with respect to CSR. Authenticity, transparency and yes, compassion, are highlighting many corporate philanthropic and responsibiity discussions these days. I hope this trend continues! Thanks so much for helping to lead the way.
Carol Cone	October 9, 2009 4:56 PM At the recent Advertising Week in NYC, one of the opening presentations was on trust -- not your normal presentation for that industry. It was fascinating to hear the critical need for trust today, now at the center of driving the "new normal." Why? Because of transparency and the consumer in control, combined with the global financial meltdown. Professor Nancy Koehn from the Harvard Business School added to this conversation, saying the world now has a desperate need to trust, but who? That there is a yearning to find people and institutions to believe in. Business must reset. It is how business behaves in all its actions that is under severe scrutiny. Those institutions that continually strive to do better along an endless journey to rebuild and earn trust, they will be the winners. It is not easy, but a journey that is necessary for the future of our world.
Prema Sagar	October 12, 2009 12:00 PM Carol You continue to amaze me. Your focus and dedication took you to His Holiness...the most amazing person in this Universe. You have been blesssd. You should write to my dear friend - Siddiq Wahid (sidwah@gmail.com) - studied and taught at Harvard. Returned to India and is the Vice Chancellor of the Islamia University in Kashmir. His family has close connections with the Dalai Lama and only the other day he was at my place showing me photographs of his last meeting with His Holiness. When you come to visit us in India, we will request Siddiq to help us get a few moments with His Holiness:) Trust is the basis of harmony..we should all stick it on your status messages. Thank you for sharing this with me.
Melba Walton	October 12, 2009 3:27 PM I feel such betrayal by the greedy people in the USA finacial and real estate market...The media and the government must work for unity and for the common good as never before. Trust must be restored ASAP. It is vital that President Obama proceed with compassion and trustworthy leadership.
carol cone	October 13, 2009 11:02 PM Prema -- How great to hear from you. I looked at our photos from Cannes last weekend, and recalled what a wonderful time we had. I do hope that I can come visit you in the near future. I would be forever grateful for Siddiq to arrange a meeting with His Holiness....there is so much to learn. Authenticity is also key to trust. Humility can also deepen relationships. Stay well.
carol cone	October 13, 2009 11:04 PM Melba -- The greed of so few took down our country, and the world. I pray that our President will instill new and lasting values as he embraces new models of collaboration and innovation for the future of all peoples, countries and our planet.
erika dugas	February 8, 2010 11:59 AM I am still moved an amazed by your dedication and impact in this space. I am not sure if you will actually remember me. When we met I was an extremely young, idealistic and ambitious designer from a little shop called LBC Design. Your modeling in the brief time I spent with you impacted me. I think Dr. Phil would call you one of my Pivotal People. Through these posts, you continue to inspire me to bring authenticity and compassion to my job. Right now that involves helping our clients engage with their customers in new, more intimate ways through social media. I have just started out on this journey and my intention is help rebuild the trust between organizations and their clientele. Thank you for the continuous reminder that we all have a unique opportunity to make a positive impact.
pampers gifts to grow	September 28, 2011 8:23 AM This is highly interesting.

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