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Discussing Politics in the Workplace
By Randy | January 20, 2009
Did your guy win the Presidency? He didn’t? Before you go spouting off in the workplace about your political views, take a few hints from Entrepreneur.com:
- Foster skills for engaging differences. Politics is one topic that arouses strong feelings. But political discussions at work present opportunities to hear different views to which you might not otherwise be exposed, and to expand your perspective through open dialogue, if you believe you can learn from others.
- Consider the relationship when engaging in political conversations. To what extent does your style of interactions transcend “polite” discourse? What is your experience with each other in terms of debating different points of view?
- Focus on how you discuss the issues. Think about the way in which you voice your views. Talking about the issues can be stimulating and educational, but remember to respectfully disagree without name-calling.
- Be sensitive to power and positional dynamics. As an authority figure, consider the impact your point of view might have on others, i.e., how your conversation might be experienced as subtle–or not so subtle–pressure.
- Take time to reflect. Be willing to consider what the other person is saying and examine your own perspective, rather than just debate the certainty of your views.
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