by The rule of thumb that traditionally has banned politics from the work place appears to be wearing down, according to a Chicago Tribune column by Rex W. Huppke. So, given this is a campaign year, don’t be surprised if a debate finds its way into your office.
But, that’s not to say the office climate should or will heat up, notes Huppke. If colleagues remain respectful of one another, there’s little reason this topic needs to remain taboo. In fact, “If you can’t have a tough conversation with a co-worker, how are you going to have tough conversations with clients or customers?” he points out. He references a book written by longtime mediators, Louise Phipps Senft and William Senft – Being Relational: The Seven Ways to Quality Interaction & Lasting Change. The authors believe that, contrary to traditional beliefs that certain topics should be considered off-limits in polite conversation, “We need to talk about these topics and learn how to do it well, without having it become a problem.”
As with many behaviors that don’t come naturally, the more we do it, the better we get, note the authors. “Having these conversations with people who work together will make their ability to deal with issues at work much easier,” say Senft and Senft.
Hupke speaks to the authors about the best approach co-workers should take when approached by a colleague who wishes to talk about the presidential campaign. First, determine whether the setting is right for the discussion at hand. Can you give the topic your full attention and completely engage your colleague? “Set the stage for a quality conversation,” the authors point out. “A discussion on a controversial subject can’t just be a couple of comments in the hallway,” adds Huppke. “You need time to listen to each other and show an interest in what the other person is saying.” If that’s not possible, Senft and Senft recommend meeting over lunch to continue the discussion.
Being truly engaged in a discussion calls for “a little bit of generosity and humility and a willingness to be attentive to the other person, and hope that they’re attentive to you,” says Huppke, paraphrasing the authors. This means being open to the possibility that we are not always right. According to the authors, “You are really trying to look hard at your own assumptions and beliefs and [ask] yourself, ‘Do I really know that to be true? How do I know that? Could there be information that I don’t have that I need to be more informed?’”
It’s important to remember that this is a conversation or friendly discussion, not a competition, note the authors. “Quality dialogue is not a competitive process,” they say. “That doesn’t mean you give up on persuading other people. It means you’re being open and generally willing to consider other people’ arguments.
While there’s no guarantee that a political discussion will end well, following the authors’ suggestions at least presents a possibility for a positive outcome, notes Huppke. In fact, he points out, you might even learn something.
For sales reps who make it their business to listen and learn from their customers, that’s not a bad approach.
Source: Chicago Tribune, December 7, 2015.
