With Obama clinching the democratic nomination, you can be sure that water cooler talk is heating up in workplaces across America. It might go something like this:
Worker A "Obama has hit a racial milestone, we have truly evolved in this country."
Worker B "What about the strides Hillary has made for women in this country."
Worker C "Why did she stay in the race so long, it's really divided the party."
Worker B "Why are you blaming the disruption on Hillary? If she were a man would you make that judgment?"
The former discourse is just a sampling of ideas circulating which begs another look at political etiquette during this tumultuous season of political drama. It's a cast of characters that creates a rich tapestry of stories, perspectives and conversation. But this is a time when work/life balance takes an important role. We need to have a keen awareness to afford a smooth transition come November in the workplace. Well after the shift of power, we'd like to think that prior political dissagreements are water under the bridge.
A few months ago I posted on this topic: When Political Talk Trumps Workplace Etiquette. In that article I suggested some guidelines that might help you navigate the workplace political experience. It's a fine line between speaking your truth and not offending others. So consider the following as the conversation has now escalated in the political sphere:
- Be conscious about the way you express your views. Sharing is one thing, proselytizing is another.
- There is no right and wrong candidate or opinion. You might be a die hard supporter of one camp, but it doesn't mean your political prowess trumps the likes of your colleagues.
- Mutual respect. Discussing politics might be taboo for certain colleagues and juicy lunchtime conversation for others. If someone prefers not to comment – leave them alone.
- If you and your boss don't see eye to eye. Heck – leave that conversation for another time – or ditch it all together.
- Remember that the workplace is for work, not for campaigning. You might feel passionate about a topic or candidate, but know when enough is enough.
