When to call it quits in political comms

When Naysa Woomer left American Representative George Santos’ office with a scathing letter of resignation , I was reminded of how fascinating it is when the communication director for a high profile politician makes news with their departure. What does it take for a communication advisor to leave an office like this?

Political comms staffers often leave offices because their career is changing and they want to exit on their own good terms. This is the common, professional approach (and something I’ve done myself). But in Woomer's situation, she is clearly getting out because her politician is a mess and she wants out now.?

"[Santos] never took one point of professional advice given," she wrote in her resignation letter.?

While I was part of Naheed Nenshi 's mayoral office, I obsessively watched the train wreck that was Rob Ford's Toronto mayoralty. For many Calgarians, it seemed like an alternate reality. Like Santos today, Ford appeared out of control, and it was unclear if he was ever using professional communications advice. Which brings us back to the question about what makes a communication advisor jettison themselves from a political office.?

Let's assume you’re working for a politician as messy as Santos or Ford. I think most professionals will stick around for at least a year. Either they believe they can help the politician (and, by extension, the public) or they are enamoured with the role’s high profile public service. It's honourable to give it a try to see what you can achieve.?

But at some point, you need to walk out the door, with or without the fanfare. I think it comes down to weighing three things:

• Damage to your career
• Damage to others
• Damage to your soul

Protecting your career

The first is most commonly discussed in political circles. How long can one stay close to a disastrous politician before being considered disastrous themselves? It is tough to find a job if your resume includes comms for someone largely considered to be a communication failure.?

Based on the quotes pulled from Woomer's letter, she seems to be inoculating herself against career damage by saying Santos took none of her advice. But that can only take you so far since part of your job should be to help your principal choose the best path forward. I empathise with anyone who says "no one takes my good advice," but I know there's also a skill in persuading the principal to follow the good advice.?

Stop hurting folks

When I worked in real estate after politics, a fellow leader encouraged me to have a bit more chill: "We're not making life or death decisions here... unlike in your last job."?

Too many people treat politics as a sport with wins and losses and strategies to outplay the competition. That masks the reality that policy and budgetary decisions have very real effects on people. The availability of a program or service can affect a life or the quality of that life. Your support of a "messy" politician—whether they take your advice or not—impacts lives; you're not just on a team entertaining political watchers.?

If you're making lives better: great. But if you're on the team damaging lives: time to get your parachute ready.?

Save your soul

As I get older, the third point has considerably more weight despite being more intangible. Can you work for someone who doesn't share your values or world view? I've tried, but I couldn't do it for long, even when I've had the privilege of changing jobs/clients. What mental gymnastics do you have to do to separate yourself from your job? What amount of therapy will you need after the fact??

It can be especially scary to walk away from a “good job" just because you don't share moral ground with a politician, but it will be for the better. This kind of damage can also affect your career: potential employers judge your morality based on the company you’ve kept. I know one communication professional who has gone to great lengths, including working for other political parties, just to demonstrate that they shared very little with the person they worked for.?

Ultimately, leaving a political job is a combination of all three, with each element weighed differently by the individual. Watching someone publicly leave a problematic political office makes for good discussion over a drink or two. And for some of us, it’s all too real.?