The 2023 Trust Barometer: Good News (Possibly)
By: Bea Boccalandro, Author of Do Good at Work: How Simple Acts of Social Purpose Drive Success and Wellbeing and purpose advisor to over a dozen Fortune 500 companies
The 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer, a respected global measure of trust in institutions and related concepts, finds that many worries are dampening wellbeing globally. Job loss, climate change and inflation are the top three concerns. But the data also documented what looks like a hopeful sign: Although U.S. citizens are still among the most distrustful and polarized, we’re less so than we were a few years ago. For example, our trust in institutions increased 5% last year – the biggest improvement of any country!
Might American incivility finally be receding? Might we suddenly be on our way to a healthier society and a stronger democracy? Might we soon stop poisoning the world with absurd conspiracy theories and misinformation? This moment in history may or may not end up being a true inflection point, but I suggest we each do whatever we can to make it so. Remember that even small acts make a difference! So, if you’re searching for a way to help keep U.S. society on an upward path, consider:
- Practicing deep listening (see idea #1 here)
- Dropping your cynicism (learn more)
- Holding on to your integrity in moments of hopelessness (learn more)
- Becoming an employee activist (learn more)
- Doing whatever you’re inspired to do to nudge the world toward justice, joy or peace.
You get the idea! Any of us can choose everyday actions to improve our collective fate. Why not try?
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Bea Boccalandro, Author of Do Good at Work: How Simple Acts of Social Purpose Drive Success and Wellbeing and purpose advisor to over a dozen Fortune 500 companies
Bea Boccalandro is the author of Do Good at Work: How Simple Acts of Social Purpose Drive Success and Wellbeing (New York: Morgan James Publishing, 2021), which has received critical acclaim. Wharton professor and New York Times bestselling author Adam Grant named Do Good at Work a top-30 new book, Midwest Book Review recommends it as a “life changing, life enhancing read,” Amazon reviewers rated it 4.9 out of 5 and University of Michigan Professor Victor Strecher said it’s a “science-backed really good book” he “fell in love with.”
As founder and president of the global purpose advisory firm, VeraWorks, Bea has two decades of experience helping businesses make customer interactions more human, products more inclusive, operations more environmentally sustainable, marketing more charitable or otherwise make work more meaningful. Her clients include Aetna, Bank of America, Disney, Eventbrite, FedEx, HP, John Hancock, IBM, Levi’s, PwC, TOMS Shoes, Toyota and Western Digital. Her work has been featured in popular business media such as FOX TV, Business Digest, Forbes and Harvard Business Review – as well as in specialized academic publications.
Bea also has 15 years of experience teaching corporate social purpose and corporate social responsibility (CSR) at Georgetown University, Boston College and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Over 80% of student evaluations have rated her teaching a perfect 5 out of 5. Furthermore, her speeches across more than 50 countries have inspired tens of thousands of people to make their work more meaningful. She was born in Caracas, Venezuela, but today lives with her husband in San Clemente, California, where she embarrasses herself as a beginner surfer.
Learn more at www.BeaBoccalandro.com.
