"So, who are you voting for?"

If this topic of water cooler conversation strikes fear in your heart, you are not alone. A Gallup poll says that 15% of respondents felt uncomfortable or that they were treated unfairly at work because of their political views. Frankly, I am surprised the percentage is not a LOT higher than that. The closer we get to the upcoming presidential election, the more at risk we are for discomfort, conflict, and discord in the workplace.

How can we navigate these tricky times while keeping our work relationships intact? You could forbid political conversations at work, I suppose. But let's be real—they will happen even if they are outlawed. That's why it is a good idea to ensure supervisors at every level have the skills they need to diffuse tensions when they arise. Now may be a good time for a refresher course on topics like active listening, conflict resolution, and dealing with difficult people.

The Washington Post ran an article recently that offered wise advice, including:

• If you decide to talk politics at work, approach the conversation with curiosity and interest in other perspectives—instead of looking to debate or persuade.
• Accept that you are not likely to change anyone's opinion; it's better to seek to understand them.
• Listen to learn, not react.
• Breathe, pause, and step back before responding.
• Aim for everyone to walk away from the conversation positively instead of feeling attacked or unheard.

If this all feels too risky and you would prefer to stay away from a conversation about politics with your coworkers, that's your prerogative. You could simply say something like, "I'd rather not talk about politics, but are you watching any good shows these days?" and shift the conversation to safer territory.

Here is the full article from the Washington Post if you would like to take a deeper dive:

https://wapo.st/3TqITcl

The next several weeks will have many Americans feeling both passionate and anxious about our politics. Let's be careful out there! No matter what the outcome of the November 5^th election, I'm wishing for civility and respect in the workplace. May we all emerge with our relationships with our colleagues intact.