By Karen Firestone
It’s not as unusual as it once was for partisan discussions to flare up at work. As a CEO, I try hard to defuse tense moments, hoping to reduce the risk that colleagues become opponents while still leaving room for open and direct discourse. Here are some of the principles I’ve used for smoothly navigating political discussions:
- Be aware. Either be careful about bringing up themes that could lead to a political argument or know in advance how you’ll handle the conversation after it ensues. Have a plan for how you’ll handle conflict if it escalates.
- Avoid broad political statements. If political discussion is germane to solving business questions, go for it, but be careful to monitor the temperature and restore balance. You don’t want acrimonious political debates distracting your staff from the task at hand. Keep the team focused on your primary objective.
- Go to individuals separately, and listen. Many people in our firm are left-leaning politically, and sometimes the talk of what “the Republicans” are doing leaves our more conservative employees feeling defensive. After a recent meeting, I went to one such colleague’s office. We talked about how he sometimes felt unfairly labeled, and I agreed that we needed to work on that.
- Be an example. When a CEO exhibits intolerance, it is easier for others to follow suit. Sometimes, hearing a different view can change our own perspective. And just by listening, we show respect.
Karen Firestone is the president and CEO of Aureus Asset Management.
