If you haven’t seen it, the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer reveals that 70% of individuals are unwilling or hesitant to trust someone who has different values, facts, problem-solving approaches, or cultural background. Creating trust is hard. Restoring trust when it’s been broken is even harder. But trust can be improved. Whether you’re an individual or an organization, here are a few things you can do.
- Have an ethical compass. I realize that ethics might have a level of subjectivity. What I believe is unethical, someone else might feel is fine. The good news is that most organizations and professional associations have ethical standards that we can turn to for guidance. Ethics help us define appropriate behavior. Inappropriate behavior erodes trust. If we want employees, managers, and organizations to act ethically, then we need to know their ethical standard and hold them accountable to it.
- Know when to confront an issue and when to let it go. Everything isn’t meant to be a battle. Sometimes people say things just to see if they can “push a few buttons”. Knowing when to ignore someone’s antics is important. Equally important is knowing when to stand up for something. Just because someone is a client, customer, manager, or co-worker doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be held accountable for their actions. People do not have to be shamed publicly but they do need to account.
- Respect people even when you disagree with them. I believe it’s possible to hold someone accountable and still be respectful. Accountability is not a form of punishment. At least, it doesn’t have to be. When we disagree, we can still express our differences in a respectful way. If we find ourselves constantly disagreeing, then we might need to make some other decisions. But even then, we can treat each other in a respectful fashion.
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