Making Etiquette Easy: Keeping your Campaign Season Composure in Check While at Work

 

Every two years in the fall, our lives are consumed by the passion of politics as we near the first Tuesday in November, Election Day. Our yards, cars, and conversations all tend to reflect our political beliefs, as well as the candidates we endorse. Even though as Americans we have the right to practice the first amendment, I urge caution when it comes to political discourse in your professional landscape. Below, I have compiled a few things to consider before opening the door to politics in the office.  

                ­-The politicians we support are a direct reflection of what we believe.  Even in Texas, not everyone prescribes to the same belief system.  People come from a variety of backgrounds and upbringings, which ultimately shapes their world view. Our ability to elect government officials who we feel represent us is important to folks, and with that can come a strong emotional tie. Choosing to discuss politics in the office can be similar to discussing religion; it can be controversial, and a discussion can become heated and out of control very quickly.

-Refrain from discussing other candidates. Bad mouthing a particular candidate or government official has the potential to offend a coworker if it happens to be someone they support, and to some, this may seem as if you are mocking their personal beliefs. These situations can lead to you not only loosing respect from your coworkers, but it can make group work and projects uncomfortable as well.  At the end of the day, political discourse can become a distraction to you and your coworkers and hinder productivity.

-Political discussions do not have to be avoided at all times. In our business, political discussions occur more frequently as the news cycle hits on policies and topics impactful to our clients or their industry.  As this opens the door for political discussions in the work place, we have a pretty clear picture of where coworkers and clients stand politically and feel comfortable managing our discussions around politics.  However, even when you know where folks stand on the political spectrum, there is still a suitable time and place for these discussions. So if there is ever a question to the appropriateness, I recommend erring on the side of caution and choosing a different subject matter.  

Even though politics may be on the forefront of our minds during the month of October, remember to keep your composure in check while at work, and among co-workers or clients. There’s no need to compromise your professionalism or relationships by “going there.”