Examples of Eroding Community Trust

My nonprofit leaders, here is a reminder of how data can impact the hard-built trust with the community: ● You collect data and never share back what you learned. → people gave their time, insight, and stories — and you disappeared. ● You ask for feedback, but nothing visibly changes. → silence after a survey signals: “We heard you, temporarily.” ● You only report the “positive” data. → editing out discomfort makes people feel their real concerns don’t matter. ● You don’t explain why you are collecting certain data. → people feel they are being extracted, not invited into a process. ● You ask the same questions in 3 different data collection tools in the same year — and do nothing new. → it reads not purposeful. ● You frame questions in a way that limits real honesty. → biased language, narrow choices, and lack of nuance tell people what you want to hear — not what they need to say. ● You over-collect but under-analyze. → too much data without insight leads to survey fatigue and disengagement. ● You hoard the data instead of democratizing it. → when leadership controls the narrative, your community loses faith in transparency. ● You don’t acknowledge who is missing from your data. → if marginalized groups are underrepresented and unacknowledged, you reinforce exclusion. ● You use data to justify decisions already made. → trust me, people know when you’re just cherry-picking numbers. #nonprofit #nonprofitleadership #community

The unintended fallout of USAID cuts: Erosion of trust in health systems The freeze on USAID health and humanitarian aid is already having devastating consequences. In Uganda, the Ministry of Health had to publicly reassure citizens that hospitals would remain open—that’s how deep the anxiety runs. At the same time, a male nurse at Uganda’s top hospital died of Ebola after first seeking care from a traditional healer. A trained medical professional, yet he did not trust the system he worked for. This is not just about financial shortfalls. This is about trust. When funding disappears overnight, it signals instability. Instability breeds doubt. Doubt fuels misinformation. And in healthcare, trust is everything. Obol Sunday Jimmy tells us that in Uganda, false narratives are already taking hold—claims that the Ebola outbreak is a government ploy to secure emergency funding. When public confidence in the health system collapses, the next pandemic won’t just be harder to fight—it will be deadlier. The USAID freeze doesn’t just affect Uganda. It has set off global ripples that weaken pandemic preparedness and undermine years of health system investments. And when the next global health crisis emerges, the cost of mistrust will not be paid by Uganda alone. It will be paid by all of us, including Americans. #GlobalHealth #USAID #stopwork #TrustInHealth

🚨 Insider Threat Alert: When Integrity Fails, Communities Suffer 🚨 Insider threats aren’t just limited to the tech world; they can strike at the heart of any organization—and the consequences can be devastating. Take, for example, the recent scandal in Texas, where over 200 teachers allegedly paid to have someone else take their certification exams. This $1 million scheme, orchestrated by trusted educators and administrators, didn’t just cheat the system; it betrayed communities, families, and students who relied on them. When insider threats are allowed to fester, the repercussions are profound: 🏫 Erosion of Trust: Students and parents lose faith in educators, feeling betrayed by those they looked up to. 📉 Damage to Reputation: Schools that have been community pillars for generations now face scrutiny and stigma. 👥 Community Impact: Future leaders are shaped by these institutions, and a compromised education weakens entire communities. Insider threats like these highlight the critical need for vigilance, ethics, and strong oversight. An insider risk program isn’t just about cybersecurity; it’s about protecting our values, our people, and our future. Let’s remember: safeguarding our institutions means more than protecting data—it means preserving trust. 🛡️ #insiderthreat #integritymatters #communityimpact #humanriskmanagement #ethics Photo by Bernard Hermant on Unsplash

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

Trust on Trial: What the Karen Read Case and AI Teach Us About Leadership Trust is the backbone of any organization-whether it’s a business or a police department. When trust erodes, every action is questioned and confidence collapses. The recent audit of the Canton, MA Police Department during the Karen Read trial highlights serious procedural failures that have fueled public skepticism: 👉 No photos taken of the victim at the scene before moving him 👉 Critical witness interviews not conducted at the station or properly recorded 👉 Use of personal phones for evidence documentation 👉 Incomplete chain of custody for key evidence 👉 Lack of police presence to secure the crime scene throughout the day 👉 Delays and errors in handling and turning over video evidence 👉 The lead investigator Michael Proctor was subsequently fired (enough said) When trust breaks, people question everything-process, leadership, and intent. The same dynamic plays out in business, especially as companies adopt powerful new technologies like artificial intelligence. Trust is easily lost if customers perceive that AI is being used irresponsibly or without transparency. The business impacts are real: customers may stop buying, switch to competitors, or share negative experiences that damage your reputation. Internally, lost trust can erode team morale, hinder collaboration, and stifle innovation. Rebuilding trust is always harder and slower than losing it.   ✔️ Before launching any AI initiative, business leaders should pause and ask themselves critical questions to ensure responsible, effective, and trustworthy deployment: ✔️ Are we solving a clearly defined business problem, and how will we measure success? ✔️ Do we have the right data quality, infrastructure, and internal expertise to support this AI solution? ✔️ What are the potential risks to customer trust, and how will we address issues of transparency, privacy, and ethical use?   Taking the time to reflect on these questions helps organizations avoid costly missteps and reputational damage. By focusing on clear objectives, robust data and skills, and a proactive approach to risk and trust, leaders can harness AI’s potential while safeguarding the confidence of their customers and stakeholders.   The lesson is clear: trust is not built on shortcuts. It’s earned through credibility-honest communication and expertise; reliability-delivering on promises; intimacy-creating environments where people feel safe and understood; and low self-orientation-putting others’ interests first.   Organizations that prioritize these four elements not only protect trust, but also lay the groundwork for lasting loyalty and resilience. As we watch the fallout from the Karen Read case and navigate the evolving landscape of AI, leaders in every field should remember: safeguarding trust isn’t just the right thing to do-it’s essential for long-term success. #Trust #Leadership #AI #Accountability #KarenReadTrial