Politics comes up at work whether we want it to or not, especially around elections. Most people would rather say nothing and hope everyone else does the same. Recent elections have been particularly polarizing, which only makes the silence feel safer. Christina Wing thinks that’s a mistake, and she has advice for how to talk about politics at work without things blowing up.
In a recent Inc. column, “A Harvard Lecturer Explains How to Talk About the Election Results at Work Without a Meltdown,” Jessica Stillman drew on Wingspan Founder Christina Wing’s conversation on HBR IdeaCast. The column focuses on elections, but Christina’s advice applies to any political conversation at work. She has also written a book on these kinds of conversations, Unspeakable: The Taboo Topics We Avoid and How to Talk About Them.
Why staying quiet doesn’t work
Stillman writes that many people fear even bringing up politics at work will lead to hurt feelings and distractions. Christina’s view is that avoiding the subject can hurt the business. As she put it on the podcast, if you do business in a country where tariffs are about to go up, you need to be able to talk about what that means. She also sees value in hearing from people who see things differently.
“If you express how you feel in a constructive way and are willing to listen to the other side, it could be win-win.”
Christina’s advice for leaders
Don’t ignore what’s happening. “An election has happened. It’s a fact,” Christina says. The same goes for a new tariff or a policy change that affects your business. Leaders don’t need to weigh in on every issue. They just need to open with a safe statement. After an election, that might sound like: we were all up late watching the results, there will be consequences either way, and here’s how we’re thinking about what it means for the company.
Plan what you’ll say and watch your tone. If you’re walking in already angry, Christina says to walk away. “It needs to be done very calmly with the understanding that you might not be successful the first time.”
Do it in person if you can. Seeing someone’s face is a good reminder of how much they’re feeling.
If it gets heated, schedule the next conversation. It’s fine to suggest everyone take a minute, but don’t shut the topic down for good. Treat it like any other important business issue. “Set up the next time right then and there,” Christina says. That could sound like, “This is not going great. I know you’re traveling the next three days. Can we try again on Friday at 9:00?”
Stillman admits these are modest, common-sense suggestions. Research backs them up, though. Talking with people who disagree with you changes minds more than most of us expect, and the other side usually turns out to be more reasonable than we assumed. The same approach works well beyond the office, including at the family table, where politics can be just as hard to bring up.
Link to the full article below.
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