Hard science and religion were the ultimate sources of truth until recently. By hard science I mean the frontiers of knowledge that can be observed, hypothesized, and falsified following the scientific method. By religion I mean any belief system around abstract social constructions, uniting people toward a goal or mission.
In that definition, physics, chemistry, and mathematics are hard sciences; economics, psychology, and the arts are not. The natural world can be probed; elements influenced by human subjectivism can not. On the other hand, divinity, political parties, nations, and corporations are examples of abstractions constructed and maintained by social beliefs. Even the concept of currency is truth that exists only because people share the belief, conferring its value.
In our daily routine, across communities, professional activities, and collective endeavors, there is a communal belief. All social constructions that unite populations, like law, economics, trade, political leadership, and future hope, are sustained by a widespread vision called ideology. In the social domain, truth is either built or imposed.
This discussion appears mere philosophical. Yet, it is vital for organizations and the leaders who guide them. A collective effort around a brand, an idea, or a goal depends on the collective belief that cooperation renders participants better off than being isolated. That’s the source of motivation at work, community life, and citizenship. We are productive professionals, good neighbors, and abide by the laws because of the truth we share in society.
In the West, citizens are searching for a new construction, as the old paradigms fade. The overall erosion of beliefs disintegrates the background that sustains all other social constructions. Be it our commitment to our jobs, the observance of the law, or our faith in the future. In the corporate world, employee engagement and efficiency drop might be symptoms of a deeper-rooted disenchantment.
The Unconscious Skill 