Navigating Political Conflict in the Workplace
People problems and work conflicts are among the most challenging aspects of being a leader, no more so when employees let political differences get in the way of their work with colleagues. I would argue that political conflict is not just about politics, but also reflects a general decline in basic manners and civility (remember Mr. Rogers telling children to be kind to one another?). Road rage, social media rants, rudeness in public, etc. are byproducts of an erosion in both personal responsibility and sense of community, and these things affect our workplaces, too. Add the stresses of COVID-19 and racial discord, and we have a pretty toxic dynamic that is impacting all aspects of American life.
Successfully managing these kinds of challenging situations is an important element of leadership effectiveness, including helping employees to develop new skills and better understand how their behavior impacts others. These are some suggestions:
Model positive behavior by listening to differing points view and exhibiting empathy
Adopt a company code that incorporates values such as respect, honesty, and empathy for both co-workers and customers
Communicate expectations reinforcing that you mean what you say about these values
Manage interpersonal conflicts when necessary
Reach out and engage in a curious way with people on the other side of political issues. Increasingly, many of us are self-limited to a bubble of people who think like us, and this can be very self-limiting.
I wrote more in-depth on this topic for my column in the New Hampshire Business Review and, when it is published, will share the link. You can also read my column “Polarization Has Become a Business Model” in my volunteer leadership role with Braver Angels (https://braverangels.org/), a national citizens movement to find common ground across political differences: https://www.unionleader.com/opinion/op-eds/douglass-teschner-polarization-has-become-a-business-model/article_464b42f5-0b19-54e3-a950-629bfe5e286a.html.
We each have an extraordinary opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives, including our own. Don’t underestimate your impact!