Trust in the Workplace: Cultivating Meaningful Conversations

Cassandra Staff*, Manager of the Office of Women's Policy at the County of Santa Clara, California, offers valuable insights into the 2024 Presidential Election as it affects the workplace. Her approach fosters constructive conversations on sensitive topics, to build trust as we approach the election season. Cassandra believes organizations can create opportunities for employees to understand each other better, and to grow as citizens and individuals.?

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Navigating the Intersection of Personal Values and Professional Responsibilities

November 5 marks my sixth presidential election as an eligible voter. And wow - this is an exciting and anxious moment for me. I’ve never been more excited, nervous, and engaged in an electoral season than I am now. One reason the stakes feel so much higher for me this time around is because I now work in local government. As the Manager of the County of Santa Clara Office of Women’s Policy, I am surrounded by politics. My colleagues have dedicated their professional lives to public service. They have played pivotal roles in electoral politics for decades. Moreover, it’s my job to work on behalf of every woman, girl, and femme-identifying person in Santa Clara County. I view this election with a gender-based lens, a perspective beyond my own personal experience. This nuanced dichotomy feels front and center.?

In my official, County role, I am nonpartisan. I do not endorse any candidate or policy. Until the County Board of Supervisors and the County administration formally adopts a stance through a public process, I cannot take an official position.?

At the same time, I am rooted in a set of values that drive my decisions in life. Those values led me to this job, where I am a part of social justice and equity work. Those same values guided me to each role I’ve held in the last 15 years, and they drive whom I spend my personal time with, where my money goes, and how I vote. I am unequivocally for some things, and vehemently against other things.

My sense of personal clarity and conviction is nested within an organization that must consider the needs of all of our residents.?

Most working people likely find themselves in a similar position right now. As somebody with strong beliefs, who cares deeply about her experience and the experiences of those she loves, I work for an organization that has other considerations, alongside a diverse group colleagues with their own beliefs.?

The Role of Information and Self-Care in Election Engagement

As I think about how to navigate this tension, the first step is to focus on what I have the most control over, and that is myself – seeking clarity in what I stand for, what I care about, and what I know. Knowing what I know and don’t know is increasingly challenging in this era of digital media. Misinformation abounds, everything is politicized, and our attention has been commodified. I try to find trusted sources of information, which means that I need to thoughtfully identify, and often pay for, those sources.?

I also need to take care of myself. It’s hard to resist the pull of addictive screens, which can harm our relationships, degrade our sleep, and diminish our attention. Not only do I need to curate where I am getting information, I also need to be mindful of the time I spend digesting content at the cost of relationships or activities that enhance my well-being.?

Building Trust and Dialogue in the Workplace During Election Season

A second step in navigating this election season, which is optional for most of us, is figuring out how to connect with colleagues about it. This gets tricky, because there are so many organizational elements at play that complicate what is already a challenging topic. Factors that affect these kinds of conversations include power dynamics, shareholder and stakeholder interests, work culture, limited time, and how people feel comfortable showing up at work. While it would be nice to work with like-minded folks who share my values, I don’t need to be on the same page as all my coworkers when it comes to personal beliefs. There is enough workplace complexity to navigate even without adding the fraught nature of politics.

Yet, we spend approximately one-third of our working lives with colleagues. For some of us, our workspace can be a place where we live our values, contribute to our community, and build meaningful relationships.?

Why not find a way to have constructive conversations, refine our perspectives, and, perhaps, build power by moving from a “me” to a “we”??

If that is the goal of a group of people, or an entire organization, then I recommend prioritizing one basic organizational element: trust. This isn’t something to cultivate in the week leading up to a sensitive discussion, but a relational element that is fostered from the beginning of a relationship. If trust is absent, clear communication is difficult to achieve. Any organizational initiative that is new or complicated will be more successful if trust is a foundational building block.

Folks tap into their trusted networks to share, process, and explore myriad topics. Tapping into organized, trusted networks is one approach to facilitating exchanges of ideas. Organizational leaders may choose to identify existing meetings and subgroups, like Employee Resource Groups or committees, for feedback on how to forge connections and share ideas related to the election. Existing, well-functioning groups of employees who have trust and rapport would be strong thought-partners in developing an organizational dialogue on election topics with communities they identify with and understand.?

Whatever models and mechanisms are developed, it’s important that they are accessible to all in the organization and offer a range of ways to engage. While many are eager for in-person opportunities to connect, online mediums are also valuable for engaging with a topic and colleagues – closed captioning, visual cues, chat and reaction features, breakout rooms, and mute are all tools to help engage a group of people with different needs, preferences, and engagement styles. Having a diverse group of people planning these gatherings will help create a supportive environment for all. When all people feel cared for and a sense of belonging, trust and affinity are developed, strengthening the foundation of an organization.

Strategies for Personal Clarity and Informed Voting

As Voting Day approaches, I have faith that those I address will listen to what I have to say. I also trust that they have faith in me. I believe sharing our perspectives will make a difference. I’m going to inform myself as much I can. I’ll take care of myself and those who depend on me. I’ll encourage eligible voters to vote. Finally, I’m going to mail my ballot in on time.

*Disclaimer: Use of the author’s official title is included as part of the biographic details for informational purposes only. The views expressed in this column are the author’s personal views and do not necessarily represent the views of the County of Santa Clara or the Division of Equity and Social Justice.

Resources

For resources on voting within Santa Clara County, check out?Web Resources and Information on Voting and Elections in California and the United States

About Cassandra Staff

Cassandra Khoo Staff is a values-driven, service and action-oriented collaborator in the world of social entrepreneurship, community impact, and local government. She helps organizations support underrepresented communities through nurturing empowered teams and communities of belonging to deliver capacity-building, employment and leadership programs and fund and advocate for policy and systems change. Grounded in social justice, mentorship and Excel files, Cassandra moves work forward with thoughtful organization, personal integrity, pragmatism, curiosity, trust, honest and caring feedback, and teamwork, guided by her belief that we are stronger together.?

As the manager of the Office of Women’s Policy at the County of Santa Clara, Cassandra strives to disrupt the status quo and offer alternatives that center those who are most in need. Cassandra’s mission-driven work is rooted in her belief that collaboration, tenacity, humility and confronting the uncomfortable are requisites for social change, informed by over 15 years of experience as an impact-first leader in international, nonprofit, higher education and government sectors.?

Cassandra is a San Jose, California native and holds degrees from Santa Clara University, Menlo College, and San José City College. She serves on the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy Board and the Santa Clara County Human Trafficking Commission.