The decline of trust in America is precipitous, with only 25% agreeing with the statement "most people can be trusted" in 2022, down from 46% in 1972. How can we change course?
First, why has trust declined? The causes vary in importance and relevance by the individual, but they generally include political polarization, economic inequality, erosion of community ties, institutional failure, and cultural shifts.
For example, just yesterday, I met with a school president for lunch. We spoke about trends in philanthropy, and he shared an incredulous example of a couple who contacted his office requesting their child be put on a scholarship. He inquired into the family's financial situation, and they told him they had just completed a major addition to their home, so they didn't have the money for tuition. The president politely declined their request.
Naturally, we quickly blame others for the decline in trust. It's the easy way out and deflects the blame from ourselves. However, a more proactive approach to addressing the trust issue would be to ask what we can do to improve the situation.
Here are a few ideas:
✅ Be Honest and Transparent. Be clear when addressing an issue and the potential solutions. Provide the client with transparent options. People sense when someone is being forthright with them and respect it.
✅ Keep Promises and Commitments. Simply put, be reliable and consistent in your actions. A friend shared how he asked a direct report to pull together a simple data chart (a 20-minute exercise). The person complained about the request to others and delivered the chart a week late. Don't be this person.
✅ Maintain Confidentiality. Avoid gossip and sharing unnecessary details without permission. Speech is humanity's most lethal weapon. Please be sure to use it with care.
✅ Show Respect and Empathy. Treat others with kindness. Societal trust is based on a myriad of daily, positive actions. Say thank you to the barista at Starbucks. Hold the door for older people, and say hello.
Final thought: In an ideal world, business, political, and educational leaders would set a high bar for trust. Please don't wait for them to do this. Take the actions needed. Let's get started!
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Michael Benedict published his first book, The Civil Society Playbook: A Commonsense Plan for a Return to Civility, in 2024. His career spans 25+ years in senior-level marketing positions at Fortune 1000 companies, tech startups, and marketing consultancies. His book covers areas of incivility that are not frequently discussed in the media. It offers solutions - actions - that anyone, regardless of age, can implement to improve civility in all aspects of society. He can be reached at michaelbbenedict@gmail.com. The book is available on Amazon, Apple Books, and Audible.
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