Trust as the Foundation of the Future: Lessons for Leaders and Organizations

We live in a time when every day begins with news – and ends with checking whether that news is true. When the country’s agenda can change overnight, and we suddenly realize that everything we believed to be stable is, in fact, fragile; that institutions meant to be pillars of support turn into sources of doubt; and even those we once saw as “unshakable” can also make mistakes, fall behind, or lose their bearings. 

Ukrainian society is currently experiencing a crisis of trust – deep, complex, and at times painful. This crisis has no single cause. It is the result of war – and the trauma it has brought with it. Of economic shocks – and grave miscalculations. Of the self-sacrifice of some – and the abuses of power by others. Of institutional failures – and the unwillingness to eliminate their root causes. Of the struggle for democratic ideals – and the lack of one of its most essential qualities: social justice. And also of inflated expectations, driven by poorly designed communication policies – and hostile manipulation that capitalizes on them. 

Yet behind this darkness that seems to surround us, it is essential to notice something crucial: crisis is always an opportunity for change. It is precisely in these moments – in the cracks of systems – that the conditions emerge for new social norms to be born. For new Leadership. Leadership that is unafraid to acknowledge complexity and work with it; that builds trust not through declarations, but through actions; that knows how to listen, see, and explain. And this is what we will talk about today.

Why Does the Erosion of Trust Hurt So Much?

Trust is not an abstract moral category. In the ninth episode of the “Leadership Podcast”, Andrew Rozhdestvensky – Executive Director of the Center for Leadership of UCU – noted that Trust is the true foundation of economic development. Trust can be fully understood as the “fuel” of innovation, the raw material of social capital, and the force that enables businesses to make decisions quickly, communities to self-organize, and societies to withstand shocks.

Now let us imagine for a moment: what happens when Trust, as a phenomenon, disappears? 

• transaction costs rise (endless contracts, repeated checks, double controls – all of it); 
• paranoia emerges: informational, political, corporate; 
• decision-making slows down, because every step requires additional approval; 
• talent flees to places where predictability exists; 
• and society becomes fragmented.

Ukraine now lives precisely in such conditions. But we must honestly acknowledge: not solely because of internal mistakes. 

The Five Forces Undermining Trust in Ukraine

1. War and chronic uncertainty

War is not simply a risk – it is a daily reminder that the future is not guaranteed. That any evening may be the last. That the next morning may bring news capable of changing everything. 

War makes people more community-oriented but less inclined to trust systems. We trust those we see nearby: volunteers, loved ones, colleagues, comrades. But far less – those who are distant and making strategic decisions. This is a natural psychological response, and it cannot be ignored.

2. Information attacks and fatigue from constant noise

We live in an era where information vastly exceeds our capacity to verify it. Algorithms amplify the emotional; disinformation disguises itself as “expert opinion”; and global influence campaigns are designed to erode our internal resilience. 

In essence, information warfare has become the cheapest and most effective way to destroy trust between citizens and institutions.

3. Institutional failures, corruption scandals, and endless reforms

Honesty matters here: while Ukrainian institutions have grown stronger over the past decade, they cannot always boast public trust. Failures in state registries, opaque decisions, persistent cronyism and corruption scandals, weak communication, and unsuccessful reforms – none of this goes unnoticed. We live in a country where every positive case has to prove its “normality” far longer than any negative one. This too is part of the reality of Trust.

4. Economic fatigue and the disillusionment of business

Business is tired of operating in a state of constant adaptation: chaotic regulatory changes, selective mobilization, relocation challenges, infrastructure risks, rising costs, shifting consumer demand. Under such conditions, trust in forecasts, strategies, and public policy naturally declines. 

Today, business is operating in the most difficult conditions since Independence. And this fatigue is also about Trust.

5. External attacks on societal cohesion

For decades, Russian security services have invested in tools designed to erode Trust – through information operations, cyberattacks, and manipulation of public sentiment. This is not a “conspiracy theory” but a set of publicly documented facts in international investigations and academic research. Naturally, Ukraine is one of the prime targets.

In these conditions, Trust becomes not an emotion but a managerial skill. When everything is unstable – Trust becomes a competitive advantage. When everything is difficult – an instrument. And when society is exhausted – a source of energy. 

A leader who knows how to restore Trust gains a team that works faster. Colleagues unafraid to propose ideas. Customers who stay loyal. And ultimately, a Community capable of collective action. This is, without exaggeration, the economy of Trust.

How to Build Trust in Times of Disillusionment: A Guide for Leaders

There is no shortage of research – some relevant to our reality, some hopelessly outdated – on Trust, crisis Leadership, and social resilience. Each evaluates in its own way the factors that shape trusting relationships: within teams, within communities, or across a nation. Yet most of them contain insights that can fairly be called universal. And it is precisely these that our team would like to share with you today:

1. Do not hide the truth – explain it.

People fear the unknown more than bad news. Transparency works as a stabilizer: when we understand the reasons and logic behind decisions, we speculate less, suspect less, and worry less. 

For businesses and communities, this means:

• regular – and above all, clear – updates and messages (even very short ones); 
• transparent and fair “rules of the game” for all participants; 
• explanations of why we are doing something this way and not another.

2. Be the first to acknowledge mistakes: it earns respect.

Modern leaders do not hide their mistakes. They explain them. This creates a context of safety and honesty. The formula is simple: Mistake – Explanation – Correction Plan – Clear Deadline – Report on Completion. 

The moment you take responsibility, you gain the most valuable asset – Trust.

3. Build feedback as an infrastructure.

Trust rests on two questions: “Do they hear me?” and “Do they understand me?”. 

Team surveys, feedback formats, regular dialogues – these are not bureaucracy. They are a way to say: “Your perspective is part of how we make decisions”.

4. Share real authority – not illusions.

The fastest way to destroy Trust is to invite people to collaborate but give them no actual influence. A leader who delegates not just technical tasks but real decisions gains a team that starts believing in the project as if it were their own.

5. Bring in experts as “anchors of Trust”.

People trust those who have competence and an independent perspective. Experts, researchers, and respected professionals can become “external amplifiers” of trust within a team, community, or company.

6. Strengthen local networks – they are more resilient than systems.

The paradox of war: large institutions may falter, but small communities remain strong. Investing in volunteer networks, local initiatives, and business communities is an investment in Trust. 

People trust those they know. Strengthen these networks – and you strengthen the country.

7. Create rituals of Trust.

In companies and communities, simple practices work:

• joint reviews of events without punishment for honesty (the principle known in the military as the After Action Review (AAR)); 
• public recognition of each person’s contribution; 
• short weekly (or even more frequent) check-ins; 
• shared volunteer projects.

Rituals are the foundation of accountability. A tool for establishing an accurate picture of events. And, as a result – the “cement” of Trust itself.

Ukraine’s Future Depends on Leaders’ Ability to Build Trust

In 2025, as Ukraine faces an exceptionally difficult stage of its war with Russia, Trust has become not merely a social phenomenon but a strategic national resource – one on which, without exaggeration, the very future of the country depends. 

At a moment when a challenging situation on the frontline coincides with societal fatigue, periodic abuses of power, and backstage political maneuvering on the international stage, the level of Trust will determine whether Ukrainian society can find the inner strength to continue its “marathon”.

And it is not only about Victory in the war for the right to exist. It is also about what awaits us afterward: years of recovery, reconstruction, reforms, new institutions, unpopular decisions, and new partnerships. These processes may either demoralize Ukrainians entirely – or, if the right lessons are learned, finally give us the chance to live in a society where Trust and Dignity are not empty words. 

Such change is impossible without leaders who:

• speak honestly;
• look toward the future;
• do not hide behind complexity;
• work with people, not over them;
• and build Trust as a system, not a fleeting emotion. 

We can restore Trust. We can build strong teams, strong businesses, and strong institutions. But for that, every person who calls themselves a leader must begin with a simple question: “Do the people I work with trust me? And what have I done today to strengthen that trust?”.