With the election upon us and families conversing safely over the holidays, politics will certainly be on our minds. Yet, in today’s world it can be a discomforting subject. When is it appropriate to discuss politics? How do we do so productively and respectfully? These are important questions to consider before you are in the middle of a difficult political conversation.
From the Playbook: Keep these four rules in mind during the election and holiday season.
Know your boundaries at work – Political beliefs are informed by deeply personal experiences that often have emotional attachments. This dynamic makes political discussions personal and can undermine productive working relationships or create division and cliques within a team. A safe and encouraged best practice is to avoid discussing politics at work.
Set ground rules before having political discussions – Before engaging in political conversations, agree to ground rules and expectations that can foster a sense of safety and trust. Consider some of these to get you started:
- Agree not to attack each other or each other’s beliefs
- Agree to seek understanding
- Agree on what topics are off limits
- Agree the conversation is not a competition and there won’t be a winner
- Agree it is OK to walk away from the conversation at any time.
Avoid labels – In politics, we tend to focus on polarizing labels and positions. “Liberal” and “Conservative,” for example, or “Pro-life” and “Pro-choice.” When we hear a label that is different from how we identify, we tend to shut out what others might bring to the conversation, and vice versa. Instead of focusing on labels and positions, focus on the experiences, stories and values that inform those positions. This is where we might find fruitful dialogues and possibly even shared interests.
Focus on listening and common ground – We often approach political conversations as an argument or debate to see if we can convince others to see things the way we do. Not only is this rarely helpful, but it is unlikely we can convince someone to abandon their beliefs. Instead of approaching the conversation through this lens, try listening to understand the other’s perspectives and focus on finding areas of common ground. This framework will encourage participation and openness for learning, growth and discovery.
