Leading with Respect: Navigating Political Conversations in the Workplace This Election Season

Creating a Respectful Workplace During Election Season: Guidance for Leaders

With the 2024 U.S. elections on the horizon, political discussions and current events are bound to pop up at work. While open conversation can be healthy, it can also lead to tension and divisive. As a leader, you play a key role in maintaining a respectful environment where everyone feels valued, regardless of their views. Here are some practical tips to navigate this potentially tricky time.

1. Lead by Example

Set the standard for respectful dialogue. Show your team that it's possible to discuss different viewpoints without getting personal. Remind your managers to encourage thoughtful discussions while avoiding judgments.

2. Introduce a Civility Agreement

Consider implementing a Civility Agreement to set clear expectations for workplace discussions. This can include:

• Respecting diverse opinions: Encourage open-mindedness and patience, reminding employees that a variety of perspectives can add value.
• Guidelines for stepping away from uncomfortable conversations: Encourage healthy boundaries, by outline respectful ways to disengage if a conversation becomes uncomfortable or heated.
• A commitment to treating everyone with dignity: Emphasize that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and that personal beliefs should not lead to professional judgments.

3. Provide Ways to Opt Out

Some team employees might not want to engage in political talk. Make sure they know it's okay to politely excuse themselves or change the subject back to work-related topics.

4. Offer Relevant Training

Think about providing workshops on civility, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, respectful communication, and diversity and inclusion. These skills will serve your team well during election season and beyond.

5. Promote Empathy and Understanding

Use this time as an opportunity to build stronger connections within your team. Encourage curiosity about different perspectives rather than judgment.

If you're interested in developing a Civility Agreement tailored to your organization, I'd be happy to help. Together, we can ensure your workplace remains a respectful and dignified environment for everyone.

Yvette Durazo the founder of Unitive Consulting, a Peoples Relationship Consultant, an independent, confidential, impartial, and off-the-record resource where employees can consult without fear of retribution on issues ranging from subtle, insidious slights and invalidations to overt discrimination and harassment. ?When organizations utilizing informal conflict resolution approaches, such as Ombudsperson, mediation, conflict resolution and restorative practice approaches, it has a 50-80% reduction in litigation.

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