Coping With Differing Political Views In The Workplace

Top ideas to handle disagreements effectively

Politics, along with sex and religion, has long been a taboo workplace topic, but there is no denying that it rears its head. It’s hard to know where to draw the line when it comes to this sticky subject, especially in a time of great divide in our country. In our book Beyond Resistance: Coping with the Stress of the Trump Era, we write that, in this country, we have come to a place beyond disagreement — we actually feel contempt for one another because of differing opinions.There was a time when we could agree to disagree and still have dinner together. But today, there is a dehumanization of the “other” happening — a seemingly desperate need to deprive people of positive human qualities. It can even threaten the well-being of employees. Clearly, this will not make for a productive, safe, or pleasant workplace environment.

The most effective approach to managing political differences is to promote a workplace culture that embraces respect and trust so that difficult conversations and disagreements (political or otherwise) can take place in a civil and safe environment. Many organizations do not have such policies; in light of this, here are some ideas to help navigate political friction in the workplace.

Leaders play a critical role in setting the tone in the workplace. The boss is the model. It’s as simple as that. By modeling the kind of behavior that she or he expects, employees will be more likely to follow suit.

In Dale Carnegie’s book How to Win Friends and Influence People, Carnegie explains that we should begin every conversation with some kind of agreement, or by getting the other person to say “yes” to something, no matter how small. It’s about building the momentum of agreement before you approach a contentious topic. And saying “yes” to a differing concept doesn’t mean that you must completely agree with someone else’s beliefs. You simply want to find something you can agree upon. Here’s an example: One person believes the environment is the most pressing issue to address in our country right now and the other believes global warming is just the natural way of life and nature. But maybe both can agree on a statement such as, “We all deserve clean air, water, and food.” The goal is to eliminate the negative charge and begin discussing the issue calmly and productively.
 
Possibly the most important thing the HR professional can do to foster a more productive and happy workplace in these polarized political times is to encourage dialogue and listening. It is important to explain that listening does not mean agreeing but allows for a less contentious environment.

In the current political climate, self-care is no longer a luxury — it’s a necessity. Encouraging employees to take care of themselves is paramount. Constant exposure to political disagreement will compromise physical and emotional well-being. Instead of reacting to every provocative situation, guide employees to get up and take a walk, exercise, and eat well. Ultimately, each employee must decide what self-care looks like for them as individuals, but if employees are committed to being their best at work, cognitively, they need time to replenish and return to optimal levels of well-being.

It can be particularly difficult to withhold your opinion, especially when prodded, but sometimes it’s worth making a nonpartisan inclusive statement like, “I’m rooting for the country and all people to thrive,” and get back to the task at hand. (On some level, we are all rooting for America — we just don’t agree about how we get there.) No, this is not a sign of weakness; it speaks to your willingness to reduce the tension, be civil, and hold to your commitments at work.
 
Politics is a volatile subject and we all must begin to understand our own personal issues and challenges and be responsible for our thoughts and actions before taking them to the workplace. Ask yourself what your higher commitment is — is it to relationships, communication, and getting the job done...or being right?
   

Ford Institute executive, master integrative coach, presentation skills trainer, and author Donna Lipman brings together her commitment to The Resistance with her life coaching and presentation abilities to partner with Kathy Hertz in creating a guide to help navigate the stress of these chaotic political times. Their new book, Beyond Resistance: Coping with the Stress of the Trump Era – An Essential Guide offers self-care solutions and action-oriented exercises to inspire everyone from political observers to advocates and activists. Visit www.BeyondResistanceBook.com.