How to Avoid Political Discussions at Work

Most HR practitioners will agree that the two subjects should be avoided at work:

1. Politics

2. Religion

Nowadays, it has become more intense. You will come across some chatter about politics at your workplace, and it does not have to become a war of words.

The situation can turn hostile quickly when one talks about politics. You may feel strongly about a certain issue, but it’s a bad idea to discuss and debate about it at work.

Different views

Make no mistake, political debates will always end up provoking those who may have different views. You don’t want those people to be co-workers, especially if it’s the boss. The professional relationship you’ve built will crumble like a house of cards. It goes even further, it negatively affects your personal relationship with them.

It doesn’t matter how public the political issues are, opinions about it can be very personal. Political discussion will always lead you to you or others around you to create biased assumptions about one another, harming the team dynamics immensely.

Be aware of what you post on your social media account, especially if your account is connected with your co-workers. Social media is where most people feel more comfortable expressing their beliefs, so keep an eye on what you’re posting.

Do’s and Don’ts

Small chats about politics don’t always have to be harmful. But, since political discussions can sometimes be so volatile, it’s best to just avoid it. Here are some do’s and don’t that your office can keep in mind.

Do’s

• If at all you are faced with a conversation about political views, keep an open mind and make non-confrontational comments. Assure that everything you say is around ‘I’ and not ‘you’ because the moment ‘you’ is used more, it can quickly turn the discussion hostile.

• Listen to what the other person has to say without jumping into it.

• Read the room. Often times discussion about politics is just for making small talk which is usually harmless. But if you feel that the conversations around you are more about validation, choose to not be a part of it by just not participating in it.

• Find common ground. Instead of addressing which candidate or political party can do a better job, change the conversation to a direction where both the parties can agree.

• Even if you find it hard to deflect from discussions about politics, learn to draw boundaries for yourself. If you ever feel that your words may be building up to debate, take responsibility for it and disengage. Do it by declaring that you do not intend to create any discomfort for anyone.

Don’ts

• Don’t engage in discussions about elections and politics even after work with your employees. Hanging out with your work buddies after work is a great way to relax but keep politics out of it too as it may find its way back to your professional life.

• Don’t touch hot button issues when someone starts political conversations as just small talk.

• Even if you are faced with a situation that is tough to avoid, do not voice your opinion in a way that slanders the opposing views.

• Don’t be completely candid about your political views at work. This can be very helpful in avoiding heated talks around politics at work.

• Don’t decorate your cubicle and desk with signs and symbols of any political party or leader. This may invite unnecessary debates with colleagues who may not share the same sentiment. Moreover, this may be against your organisation’s policies.

Sure, politics affect us as a whole, but there are many topics out there that you can discuss instead. Talk about movies, food, hobbies, weekend plans or sports.

It’s fine to have an opinion, but a political debate during the lunch break is less likely to change anyone’s views and more likely to harm your work relationship.

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Source: HumanResourcesBlog

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