How to Address the Election in the Workplace: 8 Tips
With the U.S. Presidential Election less than a week away, I am sure many of you are feeling anxious and nervous about what’s to come. I know many of our clients are anticipating both the election results as well as how the event will impact their teams and the company’s overall culture, morale, and path forward.
Some have asked me for guidance on whether or not to address the election in the workplace and if yes, how to do so in a way that won’t further fracture the workplace. It is tough to give a one-size-fits-all answer, as each organization’s context (and frankly, values) is different, but you’ll find below high-level tips on how you might consider approaching the situation.
8 Tips on How to Address the Election in the Workplace as a Leader
1. Prepare: Prepare your communications and action plans in advance
In preparing your communication and action plan, clarify your own (and if you’re an executive, your company’s) priorities and goals. What are you trying to prioritize with the communication? Is it your team’s well being? The team’s productivity? What is your ultimate goal with the plan? Is it to bring a sense of calm and groundedness? Or is it to fuel people into action? Or is it to quell any political discourse?
2. Acknowledge: Proactively anticipate and acknowledge the election’s impact on people’s morale, emotional and psychological well being, and livelihoods
To deny this election’s emotional impact on people would be to deny the material and irreparable consequences the current administration has had on so many marginalized people, along with the fear and anxiety people have about what’s to come. Instead of trying to diminish the election’s emotional nature (people are emotional about it because it matters!), address its very real impact head on by acknowledging and anticipating the rollercoaster we’re going to be on not only on the election day but days following. Acknowledge before the election and do it again after.
3. Create Spaciousness: Plan for a lighter week next week and the week after the election — give explicit permission for people to reprioritize their work to create more spaciousness
Let’s be real. We’re all distracted and we’re going to be distracted (for good reasons) for the next few weeks. Proactively give people permission to create spaciousness so they can take care of themselves. Many companies are giving people a paid day off on election day to ensure everyone has an opportunity to vote, and some organizations are instructing employees to have a more lenient week (this all depends on how the manager handles it) — even if your company hasn’t designated a lighter week, if you’re in a managerial position, proactively work with your team to redistribute priorities so everyone can feel more spacious going into the election week.
4. Encourage Care Plan: Encourage folks to have a post-election care plan (e.g., forming a support group, scheduling therapy in advance, reprioritizing personal and professional tasks, etc.)
If your company’s health insurance plan covers mental health care, remind people to take advantage of it. If not, consider encouraging people to form support groups of values-aligned people so people have a plan on how to care for themselves and each other. Having a dedicated space to process different emotions will be vital to everyone’s well being. Even if you’re not hosting a company-wide formal discussion session, having a guided conversation with your peers and team may help release pent up tension. Some questions you can use:
- What feelings are coming up for you and how are you moving through them?
- What does support from your team/manager look like for you this week?
- What actions can we commit to to prioritize our self-care and team-care this week?
5. Don’t Dismiss: Refrain from discouraging “political conversations.” Remember what is “political” is personal and therefore professional.
Being able to disengage from “politics” is a privilege that marginalized people and people impacted by oppressive policies cannot afford. I’m seeing lots of articles advising company leaders to “not let the election roil your workplace.” Newsflash: it is very likely it’s going to roil your workplace. The truth is, what’s “political” to some people is deeply personal for many. I often ask executives: “tell me one issue you consider political that is not also personal.” I’ve done a lot of work with executives and not one has been able to provide a satisfying answer. Immigration? It’s personal. Abortion? It’s personal. Racism? It’s personal. All of the political issues have deeply personal impacts on people’s lives. And because we’re human beings inside workplaces, they will also impact the way people show up in the workplace. What is political is personal and therefore professional. Don’t end up putting your foot in your mouth by trying to quell “political” conversations.
6. Go Beyond Partisanship: Remind everyone ideals of anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion are not and should not be partisan issues — people of all political parties should care about fighting against systemic oppression
Everyone should fight against racism. This should not be a controversial statement. Everyone should care about creating an equitable and inclusive work environment. There should not be a party-line divide on this statement (the reality is, there is, because yes, the current administration is racist. I said what I said and I won’t apologize for it!). If your organization actually cares about DEI, remind people fighting for equality and justice for all is a human rights issue that we will continue to focus on regardless of the election result. Anyone who disagrees with that— kindly show them the door.
7. Recommit to Action: Regardless of the outcome, recommit to your values of equity, inclusion, diversity and focus on clarifying your commitments and action plans to the team
This election is an important milestone but it is not an end point. Our work towards social justice will continue long after this moment. Review your company values and hold yourself and your team accountable for living your values through action.
- What will continuing your commitment to DEI look like after the election?
- How does the election change your action plans, if at all?
- What does accountability look like?
- What are you willing to sacrifice to hold true to your proclaimed values?
8. Self-Care: Have a care plan for yourself
We are not machines. We all deserve care, rest, and support. Apply all of the above to yourself and practice self-care so that you can sustain yourself and show up continuously for justice. The movement needs you. It needs all of us to stay nourished, grounded, and cared for.
Remember the work of social justice must and will continue well beyond this milestone. We cannot afford to get complacent now, or ever, regardless of who wins the election. Let’s hold each other close and continue journeying together while centering the needs of the most marginalized communities.
If you want more real-time posts and resources on all things DEI, social justice, and leadership, follow Michelle on LinkedIn and Twitter. Michelle is CEO of Awaken.
About Awaken — Subscribe to our Newsletter!
We exist to create compassionate space for uncomfortable conversations to develop inclusive leaders and teams. We’re tired of surface level conversations around diversity and inclusion — let’s go deeper. It’s time for real conversations with real people. Check out our programs (in-person and virtual interactive workshops) at www.visionawaken.com!
