Political Discussions at Work: Productive or Problematic? 6 | 34

Radical Candor: Communication at Work

Radical Candor

Business, Management, Careers

4.7 • 729 Ratings

🗓️ 4 September 2024

⏱️ 49 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Political discussions at work can be polarizing, but they don't have to be.

How do you handle political conversations at work without crossing boundaries or alienating colleagues? The team dives into the complex and often uncomfortable topic of discussing politics at work, exploring the impact of these conversations on workplace dynamics, productivity, and personal relationships. Kim, Jason, and Amy share insights on navigating political discussions with respect, setting boundaries, and maintaining open dialogue without imposing beliefs on others. Drawing on personal anecdotes and thought-provoking statistics, the conversation provides practical tips for managers and employees alike on fostering an inclusive environment where diverse viewpoints can coexist without derailing professional harmony.

Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast.

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction
Kim, Jason, and Amy introduce the episode’s focus on the impact of political discussions in the workplace.

(00:02:55) The Value of Being Challenged
The importance of being open to challenges to avoid turning beliefs into prejudices.

(00:07:00) Banning Political Speech: Is It Helpful?
The consequences of banning or discouraging political discussions at work.

(00:11:22) Managing Expression in the Workplace
The boundaries of expressing political beliefs without personalizing or offending.

(00:16:31) Building Bridges Over Boundaries
Building bridges between differing viewpoints, using curiosity and respect.

(00:21:49) The Challenge of Constant Election Cycles
How perpetual election cycles can deepen divisions and polarize discussions.

(00:23:20) Working Through Political Differences
Managing team members with conflicting political views and policies.

(00:27:09) The Dangers of Silence Around Sensitive Topics
Why avoiding discussions on polarizing subjects can lead to more significant conflicts.

(00:33:24) Setting Clear Boundaries on Political Expression
Whether companies should set proactive policies on political expression.

(00:36:13) Balancing Productivity and Political Discussions
Ways to address the potential productivity dip during heated political periods.

(00:39:51) When Humor Crosses the Line
A time when sharing a politically charged joke at work made a team member feel excluded.

(00:45:18) Radical Candor Tips
Practical tips for fostering respectful discourse and maintaining professional boundaries.

(00:48:18) Conclusion

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, everybody. Welcome to the Radical Canter Podcast. I'm Kim Scott. And I'm Jason Rosoff.
0:09.6	I'm Amy Sandler. Before we get into it today, I want to let you know we've got some great new podcast merch.
0:16.1	Thank you, Brandy. Go ahead to Radicalcander.com slash podcast. If you click on the Radical Cantor
0:24.4	podcast Swag Collection, you're going to see stickers and magnets, totes. I mean, who doesn't
0:30.3	love a tote and a mouse pad? All right. If you are living in the world today, you are probably having some political conversations
0:39.3	about the rapidly approaching unprecedented U.S. presidential election, which is continuing
0:46.2	to play out daily like a Hollywood movie. So we thought we would talk today about the topic
0:53.5	of talking about politics at work.
0:57.0	There was a 2024 survey from resume help, and it noted that it's a topic that's making
1:02.9	people pretty uncomfortable. So more than half, 51% of workers say they never or rarely
1:09.0	discuss politics at work. Almost half, 45% have regretted having
1:14.5	political discussions at work. 23%. So almost a quarter of people have decided actually not
1:20.3	to apply to a company's job listing because of the company's political stance. And a quarter have
1:27.0	left or wanted to leave their job because of their bosses' political beliefs.
1:32.4	And just about half 51% believe that workplace political discussions are hurting the work environment.
1:40.4	There's some interesting differences.
1:42.6	Folks younger than 45 are more likely, more comfortable talking about politics and older folks.
1:48.8	And women have reported feeling that political discussions impact the workplace more negatively.
1:54.8	57% of women have reported that versus 44% of men.
1:59.6	But this is across the board a challenging topic. So we thought
2:03.3	we would check in on where we are today, 24. Because Kim, in a blog post, you wrote this back
2:08.9	seven years ago in 2017 shortly after the 2016 election. You gave this advice. And I'm curious
	...

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