# Markets, Trust, and the Unexamined Life By:: [[Brian Heath]] 2023-08-26 There are two approaches for organizations to deal with public markets. Most organizations try to predict public sentiment and possible responses to news and metrics. If the organizations can predict the response, they can attempt to manipulate the market. For example, suppose the organization's profits are down in a quarter, and they believe the market will respond negatively. In that case, they try to downplay the lower profits by highlighting some new business strategy or product. Hours are spent trying to craft a story that spins or distracts from the real news of note: profits are down. An alternative approach is to state things as they are confidently and directly. Organizations and managers who take this approach are confident in their position and identity. This matter-of-fact behavior instills public and market confidence that the organization can be trusted and knows what they are doing. This emerges because this approach keeps tactics the same whenever market conditions or randomness occurs. However, the organizations in the first approach constantly pivot metrics and messaging to spin and sell something that might not be. This approach can work in the short term but not in the long term, as trust is a long-term game. Most people can jump ship before they are found out, but every transition and pivot brings one closer to catastrophic failure. Anxiety and fear drive modern organizations. Reflection and solidarity drive metamodern organizations. How many managers and organizations think and have their shit together? Very, very few. Just ask what a well-adjusted person looks like and then watch the "leaders" and "titans" of business. One will see how insecure and unexamined they are. #### Related Items [[Life]] [[Reflection]] [[Thinking]] [[Organization]] [[Trust]] [[Business]] [[Metamodernism]]