Principles shape and reinforce structure. They’re the cornerstones of life and of creation. … They either hold everything up, or their lack is the reason things fall apart. There’re eight principles I believe reflect both the opportunities and the threats of this historical moment. Together, they provide the contours for the manifestations of belonging. The first is the Principle of Alignment: synchronising what we say with what we do, providing people with proof of our virtues, cementing our credibility, securing our reputations, establishing our true identities in a trust-based digital environment. Alignment is becoming a necessary precondition for life in an age of always-on social media that rarely forgives and forgets. Trust rests on this principle, and accountability is one of its key requirements. The second principle I believe is emerging as a key driving force of our time is the Principle of Decentralisation. In digital spaces, influence isn’t centralised, it’s distributed, flowing in myriad directions, any point a centre, each user a potentially powerful promoter in networks whose value grows with every new connection. Collective wisdom, connection, community, collaboration … impact manifests differently in decentralised spaces. But there is a paradox to the Principle of Decentralisation that is likely to take on increasing importance as people advocate for greater control over their virtual footprints. Have a listen to Episode 8 Part 2 of the My Belonging podcast series, “The Principles of Belonging”, where I share all eight principles and explain their importance in an increasingly complicated world .