We haven’t seen this kind of U.S. economic inequality in the past 100 years. Since 1979, the top 1% of earners saw their wages grow by 182%; the bottom 90% saw their wages grow by 44%. As a result, the concentration of money at the top of the income ladder is at the highest it’s been in nearly 100 years. And, the wealth gap between rich and poor grows even greater. But, that wasn’t a resonant message in the U.S Presidential election four months ago and, in my opinion, it’s not a message that seems to be gathering steam even though the current President’s administration includes 13 billionaires, far more than we’ve ever seen before (Obama’s whole Cabinet had a combined net worth of $2.8 billion in his second term).
No, what people are looking for is fairness.
It’s part of the reason why white working class Bernie voters voted for Trump.
It’s part of the reason why many of us have been troubled by so many federal workers being dismissed at the same time a massive tax cut is being considered.
It’s also part of the reason why many small business owners hate government bureaucracy and rules.
It’s part of the reason why Canadians look at Trump’s tariffs as having no logic (sort of an insane Brexit Revisited) and have reduced their travel to the U.S. by 20% and growing.
It’s part of the reason why many people don’t like DEI programs.
It’s part of the reason why a large majority of Americans don’t want transgender athletes in high school or college women’s sports.
It’s part of the reason why many legal immigrants were opposed to Biden’s approach to immigration.
It’s part of the reason young people are increasingly worried about the long-term effects of the U.S. deficit.
Fair is a powerful, 4-letter F-word.
Recent surveys indicate a decline in the number of Americans who view their society as fair and decent. A January 2025 Rasmussen Reports survey found that only 43% of us believe American society is generally fair and decent, a significant drop from 60% in March 2022. Similarly, a Gallup poll from June 2022 revealed that 50% of Americans rated the overall state of moral values in the U.S. as “poor,” the highest on record. Additionally, 78% believed that moral values were deteriorating. The most commonly cited issue was a lack of consideration for others, highlighting concerns about societal fairness and empathy. We see society as more coarse and unfair than in past decades.
So, what does that mean for today’s leaders? Whether you’re running a company or managing a family, your people want fairness. That doesn’t mean they have to agree with your decision. But, it does mean that they’d like to feel part of the decision-making process or, at least, they’d like to understand the logic of your decisions.
Anxiety equals Uncertainty times Powerlessness. We’re living in a time of growing anxiety, partly due to the unpredictability of the macro world of politics and economics. One of the most important things a leader can do during this time is to over-communicate which helps people to feel in the loop, thus reducing uncertainty. And, the other thing we can focus on is reminding people what they DO have control over, thus increasing autonomy and reducing powerlessness. Some of you know about my Anxiety Balance Sheet which can be a great tool for helping your people feel less anxious.
In sum, anxious times create anxious people. It’s easy for leaders to fall into a bunker mentality when they’re preoccupied with icebergs on the horizon. But, the more disconnected you are from your people and the more they don’t understand your logic for leading, the more risk there is of you being perceived as an unfair leader. And, the moment that happens, you’ve lost the most important currency in any organization: Trust.
-Chip
P.S. Maybe this is on my mind because I gave a speech at the Santa Fe Rotary a few days ago and was reminded of their 4-Way Test which includes fairness: 1. Is it the TRUTH? 2. Is it FAIR to all concerned? 3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? 4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?