Leading Through Election Turbulence: Insights from a Therapist

In the run-up to the 2024 US presidential election, leaders across industries are facing a unique but now familiar challenge: how to support their teams' mental wellness during a period of heightened stress and polarization.?

This week’s special episode of the Love and Leadership podcast, featuring licensed therapist Megan Romano, M.S., LMFT , shed light on this critical issue. Let's dive deeper into the key takeaways and explore how we can apply them in our leadership roles.

The Impact of Elections on Workplace Dynamics

It's crucial to recognize that elections don't just affect our personal lives - they have a significant impact on our work environments too. A study from the 2020 election found that 79% of employees reported being distracted from work during that period. This statistic underscores the need for leaders to address the elephant in the room rather than pretending it doesn't exist.

As leaders, we need to create space for our teams to acknowledge the stress and anxiety that comes with election season. This doesn't mean encouraging political debates at work, but rather recognizing that these external factors are affecting our team's focus and wellbeing. Consider implementing regular check-ins or creating safe spaces where employees can voice their concerns without fear of judgment.

The Importance of Self-Regulation for Leaders

Before we can effectively support our teams, we need to get a handle on our own emotions. This concept of "leader, heal thyself" is crucial. As Megan pointed out, when we're not regulated and we're bringing our own agenda to the table, we risk backing people into a corner.

Self-regulation starts with self-awareness. Take time each day to check in with yourself. How are you feeling about the upcoming election? Are you anxious, angry, hopeful? Recognizing these emotions is the first step to managing them. Consider practices like mindfulness meditation or journaling to help process your feelings.

Techniques for Emotional Regulation

Megan shared several practical techniques for emotional regulation that we can both use ourselves and teach our teams:

• Breathing exercises: When in doubt, breathe in and out. A simple technique is to touch your chest and slowly breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.
• Identifying physical signs of stress: Learn to recognize how stress manifests in your body. Do you clench your jaw? Do your shoulders tense up? Recognizing these physical signs can help you catch stress early.
• Grounding techniques: Use your senses to anchor yourself in the present moment. What can you see, hear, smell, taste, and touch right now?

Incorporate these techniques into your daily routine and consider teaching them to your team. You could even start meetings with a quick breathing exercise to help everyone center themselves.

The Value of Taking Timeouts

In high-stress periods, it's okay - even necessary - to call timeouts. If a meeting is becoming tense or unproductive, don't be afraid to pause it. Megan suggests taking at least 20 minutes, as this is how long it typically takes for adrenaline levels to decrease.

Implement a system where anyone in a meeting can call for a "pause" if they feel tensions rising. This not only helps de-escalate situations but also empowers your team to take responsibility for the emotional climate of the workplace.

The Role of Vulnerability in Leadership

Vulnerability in leadership isn't about being weak - it's about being human. When we show our own vulnerability, we create space for others to do the same. This could mean admitting when we're feeling stressed about the election or acknowledging that we don't have all the answers.

Try sharing your own coping strategies with your team. If you're taking a mental health day, be open about it. This normalizes self-care and encourages your team to prioritize their own wellbeing.

The "Tend and Befriend" Response

While we often hear about "fight or flight" stress responses, there's another response that can be particularly useful in the workplace: "tend and befriend." This involves seeking out your support network when under stress.

Encourage this response in your workplace by fostering a sense of community. This could involve team-building activities, creating peer support groups, or simply encouraging team members to check in on each other regularly.

Authentic Check-ins and Active Listening

Regular, authentic check-ins with your team members are crucial during high-stress periods. But it's not just about asking, "How are you?" - you need to actually listen to the answer.

Megan emphasizes the importance of "listening to learn, not to respond." When having conversations with your team, practice active listening. This means fully focusing on what they're saying, rather than planning your response. Show that you're listening through your body language and by asking thoughtful follow-up questions.

Normalizing Mental Health Care in the Workplace

As leaders, we have the power to destigmatize mental health care in our workplaces. This could involve bringing in mental health professionals for workshops, ensuring your health insurance plans include robust mental health coverage, or simply talking openly about the importance of mental health.

Consider implementing mental health days in addition to regular sick days, or providing resources for employees to access therapy or counseling services.

The Benefits of Proactive Therapy for Leaders

Finally, Megan emphasized the benefits of therapy for leaders, even without a specific crisis or diagnosis. Therapy can help us develop better emotional regulation skills, improve our self-awareness, and provide a space to process the unique stresses of leadership.

If you haven't considered therapy before, now might be the time to give it a try. Your improved emotional wellbeing will not only benefit you but will also have a positive ripple effect on your entire team.

As we navigate the choppy waters of election season, remember that your role as a leader is not to have all the answers, but to create an environment where your team feels supported, heard, and empowered to take care of their mental health. By implementing these strategies, you can help your team not just survive but thrive during this challenging time.