Tips for navigating political conversations in the workplace
If you have coworkers whose views differ from yours, tension may build due to conflicting views, and the polarized nature of today’s political landscape. Here are six tips for dealing with these tricky situations.
Here are six tips for dealing with these tricky situations.
1. Set boundaries ahead of time
In a perfect world, you can stop conflict before it starts. Ideally, it’s helpful to set boundaries ahead of time, and have everyone agree not to talk politics during work/gatherings. This could include sending out a group text or speaking individually to the people who tend to instigate and stir the pot. They may not always be receptive, but it’s worth trying.
2. Know where to draw the line
If the plan to set boundaries ahead of time doesn’t work and political debates break out, it’s important to practice your boundary-setting skills. Even with people who are incredible communicators, conversations can sometimes still become hostile or heated when someone has extreme beliefs. In these situations, we have no control over how the other person will act or speak to us. To maintain our own emotional and sometimes physical safety, we must set boundaries. This involves informing others how you will respond to certain actions and where you draw the line. For example, you may tell others that you intend to leave the event if political topics arise.
3. Know that changing minds is not your responsibility
As much as you’d probably like to sway others over to your side or even just get them to see things from your point of view, this is not your responsibility. In heated debates, people are typically not coming from a place of wanting to be open-minded or understanding. More likely, they’re just trying to get their opinion out – and chances are, your voice is probably not going to overpower their deep-seated beliefs and all the media they ingest. You are not in charge of having to teach them or get them to come to a different side. Protect your peace. Ask yourself, is it worth your energy?
4. Remember that it’s OK to leave
Once again, boundaries. If you are feeling triggered, upset, or angry, pulling yourself out of this situation is OK. Needing to leave an uncomfortable and potentially unsafe situation is not a moral failing or indicative of you being a bad person or coworker. It is completely valid and reasonable to leave a situation when needed.
5. Step away and self-regulate
If you’ve decided your best move is to remove yourself from the situation, use this time to self-regulate and calm down in healthy ways. Go for a walk, have a drink of water, listen to calming music, do some deep breathing or call up a safe person.
6. Seek therapy for extra support
For mental health support during the election year, therapy is a great option. It can provide you with the tools you need to navigate emotionally fraught situations such as this.
Jocelyn Moyet is a licensed mental health counselor at Grow Therapy.