Six ways boards can take the lead in an era of mistrust

The double shock of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, followed by a seemingly fundamental geopolitical realignment, has coincided with an unprecedented crisis of public trust. People fear for their livelihoods, worry about new technologies, and suspect their leaders – in government, media, and business – are lying to them. They believe “the system” is fundamentally broken. Societies have become polarized and mistrustful. Think of the heated debates over vaccines and climate change. Public expectations are often conflicted and poorly informed. For instance, some assume that a major problem like decarbonization can be instantly solved, while others dispute whether any action is needed. Disinformation campaigns aimed directly at companies cloud the public discourse. Even routine business decisions – such as choosing a supplier or drafting a corporate training…