8 Tips for Debriefing the Election with Your Team

Hey Changemaker—How are you holding up? I know this election season has been trying. So, if you’re feeling frazzled, you’re in good company.

As you process the election results, you may be wondering what, if anything, to say to your team. While it may be tempting to ignore the elephant in the room and focus on “the work,” not recognizing the emotional climate within your team could backfire.

By addressing the election’s impact, you’re fostering a culture of trust and support that empowers your team to stay connected and focused on your mission, no matter the challenges.

I write in more detail about the power of acknowledging difficult realities at work in How to Thrive When Work Doesn’t Love You Back: A Practical Guide for Taking Care of Yourself While Changing the World.

Taking the time to recognize and acknowledge change helps create shared understanding and a sense of safety. This is also an opportunity to identify what’s in your control and to direct focus there.

Alisa Yu, a Stanford Business School researcher who studies emotions, notes “People trust the person who acknowledges the emotion directly more than the person who acknowledges the situation. There’s just something special and unique about emotions—they are core to a person’s inner experience and sense of self. So when we acknowledge emotions, we humanize and validate the person being acknowledged.”

As you navigate the post-election season, here are a few tips for mindfully communicating with your team, whether asynchronously or in a formal post-election debrief:

1. Plan for post-election communication. Be ready to communicate with your team. You don’t need all the answers, but share what you do know, and commit to providing updates as more information becomes clear. I shared a few tips for getting started in a previous newsletter here.
2. Share your intention. Let your team know the purpose of the communication or time together, such as offering reassurance or fostering connection.
3. Focus on the facts. State the results and any relevant facts.
4. Acknowledge the emotional climate. Recognize that team members may experience a range of emotions about the election outcome—and that’s okay. Consider creating space for sharing in small groups or as a team to allow everyone to feel heard.
5. Reaffirm your values. Emphasize your commitment to treating one another with respect and staying true to your mission, regardless of the outcome.
6. Identify next steps. Identify what’s within your control and what’s not. Share any next steps you’re aware of. If you don’t have all the details, let your team know what you do know, and commit to updating them as more information becomes available.
7. Share resources and support. Remind your team of available benefits, resources, and contacts for any election-related concerns impacting their work.
8. Express gratitude. Show your team that their efforts are appreciated and impactful. Reinforce that you’re there to support them and work alongside them to navigate this challenging time.

Above all else, remember to approach these conversations—and yourself—with kindness, grace, and compassion. ????

You got this!

Meico

P.S. If you're looking for more tips on taking care of yourself while navigating election season with your team, check out these previous newsletters ??

• Grow Not Weary in Well-Doing: You Were Made for Times This Like This
• Managing Your Team’s Post-Election Stress
• Easing Your Team’s Election Anxiety
• Finding Balance in Turbulent Times