Whew! A lot has been going on politically this past week, and definitely more is to come in the months ahead with the presidential election less than 100 days away. Thus, I was not surprised when I recently received two inquiries about the Civility in the Workplace, Especially in An Election Year program that we offer at Concordia Consulting.

Did you know that different industries have different cultures regarding talking about and engaging in politics at the office? One association I work with states clearly that they are a nonpartisan organization and the employees should maintain political neutrality when at work. Another business I work with “strongly encourages” contributions to a specific political action committee. And a business I regularly drive past has signs and banners that proudly share their political beliefs. What are your organization’s stated and unstated norms around political discussions and involvement?

In the Civility in the Workplace program we cover:

• How civility and incivility show up

• How to always speak and act with respect

• How to instill a culture of appreciation for differences

• How to give feedback, before it becomes too challenging

• How your organization’s official and unofficial stance on political discussions impacts employees and customers alike

• How the hierarchy in your organization may be perceived as a result of their political comments

• How to listen with curiosity rather than judgment

• How mirroring can result in positive outcomes

• How clothing, posters, and mugs may be seen as political statements

• How what is tolerated by managers becomes the organization’s culture

If your organization does not have a program such as this, talk to your manager about how these strategies can be shared. And while the election is only a few months away, there will be even more discussion and opinions after the polls close on November 5. Our ability to remain civil will continue to be important well into the future.

If you are interested in Civility in the Workplace, let’s set up a complimentary call to customize this program and ensure it reflects your organization’s specific needs and culture.