Trust, look, who?
Noted: “Without renewed confidence in the market and the elites, nothing will happen,” writes Kenneth Angst.
Column Without renewed trust in the market and the elites, nothing will happen, writes Kenneth Angst. In times of social change, political unrest and economic stagnation, everyone is talking about trust: about its loss or restoration, or quite simply the longing for it. The topic is of vital importance, because in open, dynamic market and ego societies, individual and collective trust is becoming increasingly important: the range of necessities extends from self-trust to system trust, i.e. the belief in the reliability of the powerful and the markets. Consequently, organizations (associations, parties, companies, authorities) and their representatives are now more dependent than ever on their respective environment (public, media, employees, investors, voters, members) believing and trusting them and attributing competence, integrity and value to them. However, trust is also becoming increasingly scarce and fragile: difficult and time-consuming to build up, but quickly destroyed. Those who trust not only have very specific expectations, but generally also great expectations - and are therefore quickly disappointed. Those who are disappointed, however, always feel deceived and react by immediately and permanently withdrawing this mother of all communication resources.
Loss of confidence is known to lead to fundamental crises - of self-confidence, of faith in the future, of investor confidence, of political and market confidence, of confidence in the law and regulations. Just like today. That is why everyone is looking for communicative means and ways to restore lost trust or to gain new trust. Because without trust, no more risks are taken and nothing is invested. Instead, fear and mistrust are spreading. At times like these, the world is ruled by prevention rather than action, by aggression rather than communication.
Ultimately, the only way out of such depressive and explosive moods is a proactive willingness to communicate openly and straightforwardly. Particularly in times of crisis, everyone involved wants to know exactly who stands where and for what, who wants what and why, who can do what and who is doing what. New individual and collective trust is only created when clear messages clear the fog again: in favor of new commitments, new rules, new agreements. In other words, the best way to prolong the crisis is to cut back on communication. Those who want to emerge from it, however, invest in and embrace communication. It's as simple as that.
> Kenneth Angst worked in the editorial offices of NZZ and Weltwoche and is now Managing Director of Mediapolis, Zurich.
Loss of confidence is known to lead to fundamental crises - of self-confidence, of faith in the future, of investor confidence, of political and market confidence, of confidence in the law and regulations. Just like today. That is why everyone is looking for communicative means and ways to restore lost trust or to gain new trust. Because without trust, no more risks are taken and nothing is invested. Instead, fear and mistrust are spreading. At times like these, the world is ruled by prevention rather than action, by aggression rather than communication.
Ultimately, the only way out of such depressive and explosive moods is a proactive willingness to communicate openly and straightforwardly. Particularly in times of crisis, everyone involved wants to know exactly who stands where and for what, who wants what and why, who can do what and who is doing what. New individual and collective trust is only created when clear messages clear the fog again: in favor of new commitments, new rules, new agreements. In other words, the best way to prolong the crisis is to cut back on communication. Those who want to emerge from it, however, invest in and embrace communication. It's as simple as that.
> Kenneth Angst worked in the editorial offices of NZZ and Weltwoche and is now Managing Director of Mediapolis, Zurich.
