It may seem like the election season is getting longer and longer and things are getting more and more angry.
You’re not totally wrong.
There’s definitely more anger and emotion behind people’s feelings about politics now, and talking about it at work is a recipe for disaster. What can go wrong?
- It can harm relationships
- It can be distracting and unproductive
- It can create hostile work environments
- It can damage any previous psychological safety
- It can lead to anger, defensiveness, and breakdowns in communication
Not only that, these conversations trigger our fight, flight, or freeze response – making people automatically defensive or resistant to further conversation. And the reality is, not everyone is interested in productive dialogue around this stuff, many people are actually trying to “score points” rather than genuine dialogue.
So what can you do?
Luckily, Lucie and I interviewed Chris Geggie on my podcast a couple months ago specifically around how to navigate these conversations at work.
Not only is he a genius, but he gave incredible tips, including:
- Set boundaries.
- Ask for consent.
- Focus on shared values.
- Be respectful and curious.
- Seek help from a third party.
- Be aware of your own emotional state.
I think you should take a listen or watch here:
You can also listen wherever else you get your podcasts
Personally, I found it super helpful to talk with and learn from him.
Please, take care of yourself, do what you need to find yourself in balance, even if it means disconnecting from the media over the next week.
Cheers,
Chris
PS – Whenever you’re ready, I have 3 ways to help you:
- Free Strategy Assessment >> If you’re a nonprofit leader, take a free, 5-minute quiz to evaluate your nonprofit’s strategy implementation plan
- 1-hour Effective Performance Coaching Course >> If you’re a manager looking for strategies to be better at coaching your employees, take this free 1 hour course to boost up your coaching ability
- Podcast: The Art and Science of Difficult Conversations. >> If you’re interested in more ways to manage difficult conversations, I also have a podcast, Available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube
