In a polarized, low-trust environment, the same statement, policy change, or moment of silence can be read in radically different ways. This piece explores what’s changed in the socio-political context, and offers a research-backed framework for communicating on social issues when shared meaning can no longer be assumed.

In a world of permanent volatility, leadership is less about prediction and more about sense-making. This analysis explores how narrative clarity—explaining what’s changing, what isn’t, and why—has become a core strategic capability for leaders navigating AI, consolidation, and uncertainty.

AI has turned aesthetic polish into a baseline. When anyone can make anything look perfect, execution stops differentiating, and meaning takes over. This brief explores aesthetic inflation, the trust crisis it creates, and why taste, provenance, friction, and deliberate imperfection are becoming the real strategic advantages of 2026.

The juxtaposition of consumer optimism for sustainable solutions against lingering economic anxieties and a sense of fatalism about the environment presents both challenges and opportunities for businesses striving to maintain relevance and trust.

In a world where trust in governments and the media is waning, businesses are expected to step up to the plate with credible information without necessarily having the capacity to do so. This checklist guides brands through the process of positioning themselves on key societal issues. It’s a companion piece to the Social Issue Positioning Handbook, also available on our website.