Building Trust Methods

The overnight collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge has unleashed a wave of online conspiracy theories, spreading like wildfire across social media platforms. Within hours, some individuals were promoting baseless claims around the cause of the attack, ranging from cyber-attacks to intentional collisions on X. While misinformation during such events isn't new, the alarming pace and trust some of these accounts command pose significant challenges for Federal agencies and corporates alike. In times of crisis, the dissemination of misinformation on social media can wreak havoc, creating confusion, panic, and hindering effective response efforts. Moreover, it erodes trust in reliable sources of information, exacerbating the chaos and making it even more challenging to manage the situation.  For corporates, it's a reality that they are living in---that's where the importance of corporate preparedness comes into the picture. Here are a few suggestions that can help with your crisis preparedness: DURING THE CRISIS ✅ Establish Clear Communication Channels: Designate official spokespersons and platforms for disseminating accurate information. ✅Monitor Social Media and News Sources: Implement robust monitoring systems to track mentions and detect misinformation early. ✅Debunk False Information: Respond promptly with evidence-based rebuttals to false claims and communicate transparently with stakeholders. ✅Engage with Stakeholders: Demonstrate transparency and accessibility by engaging directly with stakeholders to address concerns. ✅Collaborate with Authorities and Experts: Pool resources and coordinate response efforts with relevant authorities and industry peers. ✅Monitor Sentiment and Feedback: Continuously monitor stakeholder sentiment to tailor communication strategies and address concerns. BEFORE CRISIS ❎ Educate Employees and Stakeholders: Provide training on media literacy and critical thinking skills to empower individuals to discern fact from fiction. ❎ Review and Update Crisis Communication Plans: Regularly review and update crisis communication plans based on lessons learned and emerging best practices. AFTER CRISIS ⭕ Evaluate and Learn: Conduct a thorough evaluation of the company's response to misinformation to inform future crisis preparedness efforts.

✨ Want to rebuild trust in research within African American communities? Stop just sending letters or making phone calls—make community members part of your research team! We've had enough 😂 The article “Overcoming Research Mistrust in African American Communities” highlights how involving community members directly on research teams can bridge historical gaps and foster genuine collaboration. ✅ Key Takeaways: Community Engagement: Moves beyond traditional outreach, creating ownership and collaboration. Historical Mistrust: Recognizes and addresses past ethical violations transparently. Challenges & Opportunities: Requires thoughtful training and addressing power dynamics, but the results are worth it! And guess what? We’ve got your back on this journey with our upcoming self-paced training: "Rebuilding Trust to Advance Health Equity." Let's create more ethical, inclusive, and equitable research practices—together. Article is attached below👇🏾 #HealthEquity

As I have long said, you can deliberately develop trust. In GenAI workforce transformation, that is critical. McKinsey propose 5 steps for effective change management transition in a new article, including on how to build trust. Below are the five suggested steps. These are solid and strongly align with my work, notably on clarity of vision for the future of work, setting trust development programs, designing Humans + AI workflows and team structures, and driving change through energizing champions. Their MVO concept is definitely interesting. 1️⃣ Define a clear North Star CEOs should set a simple but bold vision that shows how gen AI will create value and competitive advantage, not just add tools. A clear North Star aligns the organization while preparing for fast-moving technologies. Companies that define outcome-driven AI strategies can capture more enduring value than those chasing features. 2️⃣ Build trust through data and governance Without trust, adoption stalls. High-performing companies, those attributing 10%+ of EBITDA to gen AI, are nearly twice as likely to invest in trust-building activities. Accessible data, robust governance, and enterprise-specific knowledge bases ensure employees believe and rely on AI outputs, boosting both adoption and performance. 3️⃣ Reimagine workflows around AI teams Gen AI isn’t just another software tool, it transforms how work gets done. Instead of bolting AI onto old processes, companies should redesign workflows in stages: from discrete AI helpers, to agent groups, to autonomous “agent swarms.” Firms that integrate AI into daily work, like McKinsey’s Lilli now used by 92% of staff, see massive efficiency gains. 4️⃣ Reshape organizations with MVOs and augmented teams Some functions can evolve into highly automated Minimum Viable Organizations (MVOs), while others thrive by augmenting humans with AI superpowers. For example, back-office processes may become MVOs, but customer-facing roles like sales and service work best with human-AI collaboration. CEOs must redesign structures and talent strategies to balance cost savings, speed, and customer experience. 5️⃣ Empower employees as change agents Widespread employee involvement is key. Companies involving 7%+ of staff in transformations double their odds of strong shareholder returns. Encouraging “superusers” (often millennial managers, 62% of whom already show high AI expertise) to lead adoption accelerates culture change. Programs like Singtel’s AI Academy, which is training 10,000+ employees, show how large-scale reskilling builds momentum.

Most creators start with the wrong question. Here's what they should be asking... When Isaac French built Live Oak Lake — a luxury cabin resort that sold for millions — he didn’t start by asking “How do I get more followers?” He started with: “What’s the most remarkable thing I can create?” Here’s the framework he used — and how you can apply it: 1. Design for emotion, not just function “Craftsmanship, design, and storytelling—that’s what moves people. That’s what scales trust.” Anyone can build a functional product or service. Few build something people are emotionally invested in. Isaac obsessed over design details — from the architecture to the texture of the wood — because he knew that’s what guests would remember and talk about. Whether you’re making a course, software, or physical product, ask: → What emotional response do I want my customer to have? → How can my design, branding, and story make them feel that? When your audience feels something, they remember you. 2. Use storytelling to scale trust Isaac didn’t just post polished “final product” shots. He documented the process: sketches, material choices, build challenges, even mistakes. This built trust and anticipation. Stop hiding the messy middle. Share how you’re building, why you’re making certain decisions, and what you’re learning. This transparency turns casual viewers into long-term supporters — people who feel personally invested in your success. The more your audience trusts you, the faster your sales cycles become. 3. Create something press-worthy from day one Most entrepreneurs build, then scramble to find marketing angles. Isaac built marketing hooks into the product — unique architecture, a beautiful location, & a personal founder story. Before you launch, ask: → What makes my project worth talking about? → What’s the “headline” someone could write about it? → If the answer isn’t obvious, tweak your concept until it is. Press and influencers are always looking for a good story — give it to them. 4. Build assets you can sell or scale When Isaac sold Live Oak Lake, the buyer wasn’t just buying cabins — they were buying the brand, media coverage, customer base, and operational systems. Even if you never plan to sell, think like you might. Build assets such as: → An engaged email list → A content library that ranks or gets shared → A productized service or course you can deliver repeatedly These assets give you leverage and optionality down the road. 5. Think beyond the first project Isaac saw Live Oak Lake not as the final chapter, but as the first rep — the experience that would make him unstoppable for his next venture. – ♻️ Share this post if you found it helpful. ➕ Follow me ( Ish Verduzco ) for more posts like this.

📢 Enhancing Democratic Trust Through Data-Driven Public Communication A new report by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission sheds light on the critical role of trustworthy public communication in strengthening democracies. 📊 Key Data Insights: Public Trust and Governance: Trust in government correlates strongly with the quality of governance. For instance, countries with high governance quality, such as Norway and Sweden, also exhibit high public trust levels. Conversely, in countries like Romania and Mongolia, low governance quality aligns with low trust levels. Impact of Trust on Compliance: Higher trust in public administrations can significantly influence compliance with public policies. For example, increased trust in health authorities could save millions in healthcare costs by improving compliance with vaccination programs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, misinformation cost the Canadian healthcare system at least $300 million due to lower compliance with health guidelines. Survey Insights: Values-Based Messaging: A survey of 1,548 participants across CZ, EL, FR, and SE revealed that transparency and clarity in public communication are paramount to building trust. Political Moralization: Involving 2,324 participants across DE, DK, FR, PL, PT, RO, and the US, this survey highlighted the need for public communicators to address the moral implications of policy decisions transparently. COCOMI Project: Data from 5,228 participants in DE, EL, IRL, and PL underscored the importance of engaging citizens in meaningful dialogue to understand their values and concerns better. 📈 Tangible Numbers: Economic Impact of Misinformation: Addressing misinformation proactively can prevent substantial economic losses. The $300 million cost to the Canadian healthcare system is a stark reminder of the financial implications of unchecked misinformation. 🌍 Broader Implications: Values Segmentation: Instead of targeting individuals, segmenting audiences based on shared values can create more resonant and effective messages. This approach ensures that public communications are transparent and accountable. Pre-emptive Strategies: Engaging with public concerns before policy implementation can build trust and combat misinformation. Effective pre-emptive communication can mitigate misunderstandings and establish public communicators as reliable information sources. Evaluation and Skill Development: Ongoing evaluation of communication strategies is crucial for their success. Developing new skills and competencies in public communication professionals will be essential to address future challenges in the information ecosystem. Authors: Laura Smillie, Mario Scharfbillig Download: https://lnkd.in/dEcx5gES EU Science, Research and Innovation

Disinformation is a "wicked problem"—complex, multi-faceted, and challenging to counter without risking unintended consequences. Tackling it with a “do no harm” policy approach requires nuanced, adaptable strategies that respect freedom of expression and reinforce the foundations of democratic governance. In my mid-career Master’s in Public Policy at Princeton School of Public and International Affairs I've encountered this excellent Carnegie Endowment for International Peace policy guide. It offers actionable, balanced approaches based on evidence and case studies that can truly boost policy approaches to counter disinformation. 💡 Key strategies include: Empowering Local Journalism: When local news sources disappear, disinformation spreads like wildfire. Strengthening local journalism revives civic trust, keeps communities informed, and builds a first line of defense against disinformation. #DemocracyDiesInDarkness Building Media Literacy: Teaching critical media skills across communities and schools equips individuals to spot manipulation and build resilience against false information. Prioritizing Transparency with Fact-Checking: Going beyond labels, fact-checking that promotes transparency enables audiences to make informed choices, fostering trust without policing beliefs. Adjusting Algorithms & Limiting Microtargeting: Creating healthier online spaces by limiting microtargeted ads and rethinking algorithms reduces echo chambers while respecting autonomy. Counter-Messaging with Local Voices: Developing counter-messaging strategies that engage trusted community voices enables us to challenge false narratives effectively and authentically. These approaches are essential for defending open dialogue, strengthening governance, and supporting sustainable development. It's all hands on deck! https://lnkd.in/egKKmAqh 🌐 #Disinformation #DoNoHarm #LocalJournalism #FreedomOfExpression #PublicPolicy #CivicTrust cc Melissa Fleming Charlotte Scaddan Rosemary Kalapurakal Alice Harding Shackelford Roberto Valent Allegra Baiocchi (she/her/ella) Danilo Mora Carmen Lucia Morales Liliana Liliana Garavito George Gray Molina Marcos Neto Kersten Jauer

An idea I've become obsessed with: History shows how finance moves faster through trust History shows us the power of belief. During WWI, Britain launched War Bonds.  They raised money quickly and widely. People bought them at post offices, banks, and workplaces. This financial move built trust through existing networks. In WWII, the U.S. took it further. Payroll saving plans and local drives made it easy. By 1945, 85 million Americans had lent to their government.  With just small, steady amounts. This wasn't P2P lending. But it worked similarly. It moved capital through trust. No need for big institutions in every deal. Today, we face a similar challenge. How do we extend credit where banks don’t reach?  We have better tools now.  More data.  Smarter systems. But the core idea remains. To move capital meaningfully, we must build on how trust flows.  Through people. Through belief. We are not copying history. But we are not starting from scratch either. Here are 3 ways to build trust in finance today: 1/ Leverage Local Networks: Use local groups to spread the word. People trust their neighbors. Encourage small investments through community events. 2/ Simplify Access to Information: Make financial data easy to understand. Use clear language and visuals. Help people see their options without confusion. 3/ Promote Peer Support: Create platforms for people to share experiences. Encourage discussions on finance. When people share, trust grows. These may not seem big at first, but these small steps, done well over time, can create a powerful impact.

Why do residents think their local government is "information hoarding"? I've found there are three core reasons for this misconception, each of which is connected to the others — and all of which we have to work to overcome. 1️⃣ In the past, there has been a lack of transparency. 2️⃣ Residents don't know what local government actually does. 3️⃣ There is a general, overarching and ill-defined distrust of local government. 👉 Acting as though your organization has never, ever lacked transparency is likely doing you a disfavour. The fact is that, while it wasn't intentional or malicious, many municipalities weren't as open with the public in the past as they are today (and some still have work to do). 👉 Over a long period of time, that led to residents really not understanding what local government is all about. Politicking and ineffective governance have added to that issue. 🤯 Have you ever seen a mayor take it upon themselves to wage (metaphorical) war in an attempt to get a local hospital? I have. The end result was that the public started to believe the hospital issue fell on local government. The following election, multiple candidates threw the hospital into their election platforms, from an actionable standpoint rather than an advocacy one. The situation just kept spiraling from there. 👉 Numerous studies show that trust has eroded between residents and local government. Recent ones show that's especially true in areas where voters tend to lean conservative. If you are not starting from a position of understanding that fractured relationship, you may be filtering your communications through the wrong lens, which can lead to more issues. So, we know the problem — now what? WELL... Communications happens to be local government's No. 1 tool in building a relationship with residents. That long-term effort will be the key to building back trust. 👉 Be intentionally transparent in local government operations. 👉 Take advantage of opportunities to inform/educate the public on the broader role of local government. 👉 Engage residents and business owners as much as is sensible, and in a manner that truly involves them in the conversation and the decision-making process. 👉 Have effective, up-to-date communications, engagement, and crisis communications plans. 👉 Host a communications workshop with Council and members of Administration. There's also a lot to be said here for ensuring good governance and role clarity; effective use of boards and committees; regional collaboration (again, done in a transparent manner); and more. Nothing stands on its own in local government. All wheels turn together. Approaching your relationship with the community in this way takes more effort. It's a longer-term play. And it's worth it. Let's get to work 💪 #localgovernment #localgov #communications

I once worked with a team that was, quite frankly, toxic. The same two team members routinely derailed meeting agendas. Eye-rolling was a primary form of communication. Side conversations overtook the official discussion. Most members had disengaged, emotionally checking out while physically present. Trust was nonexistent. This wasn't just unpleasant—it was preventing meaningful work from happening. The transformation began with a deceptively simple intervention: establishing clear community agreements. Not generic "respect each other" platitudes, but specific behavioral norms with concrete descriptions of what they looked like in practice. The team agreed to norms like "Listen to understand," "Speak your truth without blame or judgment," and "Be unattached to outcome." For each norm, we articulated exactly what it looked like in action, providing language and behaviors everyone could recognize. More importantly, we implemented structures to uphold these agreements. A "process observer" role was established, rotating among team members, with the explicit responsibility to name when norms were being upheld or broken during meetings. Initially, this felt awkward. When the process observer first said, "I notice we're interrupting each other, which doesn't align with our agreement to listen fully," the room went silent. But within weeks, team members began to self-regulate, sometimes even catching themselves mid-sentence. Trust didn't build overnight. It grew through consistent small actions that demonstrated reliability and integrity—keeping commitments, following through on tasks, acknowledging mistakes. Meeting time was protected and focused on meaningful work rather than administrative tasks that could be handled via email. The team began to practice active listening techniques, learning to paraphrase each other's ideas before responding. This simple practice dramatically shifted the quality of conversation. One team member later told me, "For the first time, I felt like people were actually trying to understand my perspective rather than waiting for their turn to speak." Six months later, the transformation was remarkable. The same team that once couldn't agree on a meeting agenda was collaboratively designing innovative approaches to their work. Conflicts still emerged, but they were about ideas rather than personalities, and they led to better solutions rather than deeper divisions. The lesson was clear: trust doesn't simply happen through team-building exercises or shared experiences. It must be intentionally cultivated through concrete practices, consistently upheld, and regularly reflected upon. Share one trust-building practice that's worked well in your team experience. P.S. If you’re a leader, I recommend checking out my free challenge: The Resilient Leader: 28 Days to Thrive in Uncertainty  https://lnkd.in/gxBnKQ8n

When the deal of the year turned into the mess of the year... I once walked into an acquisition integration that looked brilliant on paper, and was a disaster in practice. The systems were colliding, leaders were pointing fingers, and employees were caught in the middle. Every update from the top was polished, precise, and…completely hollow. The truth? People didn’t need another update. They needed to feel understood. Where it all went wrong? I sat in meetings where leaders rolled out flawless powerpoints, crisp emails, and “efficient” town halls. From the outside, it looked like best-in-class communication. But behind the scenes? Disengagement. Frustration. Turnover. There was a glaring gap between foundational communication (telling people what they “need” to know) and human communication (making people feel seen, heard, and connected). The Reset? That’s when my team and I stepped in. We pressed pause on the corporate theater and focused on being human first: -We coached leaders to share stories, not just strategies. When people could see themselves in the narrative, they cared again. -We taught leaders to acknowledge what was messy, confusing, and hard - because vulnerability builds trust faster than any polished script. -We rebuilt dialogue. Not quarterly updates, but ongoing conversations where employees could question, push back, and be part of shaping the new culture. Slowly, things shifted. Employees stopped bracing for the next “update” and started leaning in. Leaders discovered that trust doesn’t come from having all the answers - it comes from being willing to show up as human. The lesson for leaders? In an age of automation and endless change, the real competitive edge isn’t efficiency. It’s empathy. If you’re leading through change - an acquisition, a reorg, even a tough quarter, ask yourself: Am I just communicating information? Or am I creating connection? Because when everything else is in flux, relationships are the one thing that will hold your culture together. Your people don’t need another update. They need to feel understood.