Discover how to navigate office politics during election season—and how to handle workplace conflict all year long.
As the U.S. elections approach, the political climate is creating tension in workplaces across America. Leaders are facing questions about how to handle political discussions at work that can quickly turn heated, divisive, or stressful.
And it’s probably why you’re reading this, too.
During these challenging times, it’s crucial to establish an environment where everyone feels respected, valued, and heard — without sacrificing your peace or energy.
Did you know that I used to be one the few women political consultants in Missouri? Sometimes it feels like a lifetime ago! I worked with a former mayor whose good friend was a Senator from our state. They were not of the same political party, nor did they agree on all the issues. However, these men had two choices: let divisiveness and negativity ruin their friendship, or treat one another with respect.
Thankfully, they chose the second option! They chose to act with civility and grace instead of tearing each other down. They chose to recognize that we’re stronger and better together. They understood that we may not agree on everything, but we can come together as human beings to see, solve, and support the bigger picture—even if our views, values, and voices are different.
Whether we’re struggling to handle office politics during election season or just trying to figure out how to handle workplace conflict when it arises, most of us are just trying to find ways to get along and get things done.
Sadly, I see a serious lack of respect and connection among family members and friends. Leaders I work with are concerned about the tense situations in their organizations. The social media fights and Facebook unfriending rises daily. We’re experiencing a negative cycle of overwhelm, stress, and disconnect from each other, and it’s causing hurtful, hateful conflict.
A client referred to it as “navigating the new angry”.
So…how do we respond and repair the damage?
We treat others with respect.
We remember that connection is the heartbeat of life and leadership. And that we all have more in common than we realize.
We focus on strengthening our connections and increasing our trust and understanding, which ultimately boosts our individual and collective resilience. Showing up with empathy, and compassion and finding common ground. It’s not easy, but it creates positive change. It reduces your stress and boosts your resilience. It keeps you level-headed and focused. Start with the Platinum Rule: treat others the way YOU want to be treated.
Here are three practical ways to navigate toxic divisiveness and increase connection:
Make meaningful, respectful connections.
To connect with others in a civil and respectful way, you must:
- Start the conversation. Be bold; be brave. Ask thought-provoking questions and respond in a respectful way.
Momentum-Boosting Tip: Try saying, “I feel this way because…” and then listening without reacting. This approach fosters dialogue and encourages meaningful connections. - Assume the best, not the worst. It’s your job to be the good, see the good, and share the good. Be a nice human! Assume positive intent.
Momentum-Boosting Tip: Respond to differing opinions with, “Tell me more about what that means to you.” Listening actively fuels growth, resilience, and adaptability. - Listen to others. Don’t listen to assume; listen actively to try and understand what someone says. Stay curious. Be patient and open-minded.
Momentum Boosting Tip: Turn off notifications, mute divisive topics, or take breaks to recharge your mental energy. - Find common ground. Share relevant stories that build deeper connections and stronger relationships.
Momentum-Boosting Tip: Use phrases like, “I appreciate hearing your perspective. Now let’s focus on our shared goals,” to steer conversations back to common ground. This helps maintain respect and professionalism. - Choose love, not fear. Recognize the power that comes from leading with love in a divisive, conflict-ridden world.
Momentum Boosting Tip: Be an upstander, not a bystander. Take positive action when you see negativity, and lead by example with your words and actions.
Constant conflict makes our world more negative and divided than ever. We have to take positive steps together. It’s the only way out of the divisive state we’re currently experiencing.
Keep your peace.
Do you sometimes feel like we all live in the movie, Mean Girls? I do! Who wants to relive high school? (If you haven’t seen the original 2004 movie, please watch it and report back!)
It can feel like so much of the negativity and discord is out of our control—and in many ways, it is. The good news is that there is still plenty of control to go around, especially when it comes to controlling how we let it affect us.
Because we are powerful humans, we get to choose how we show up in this constantly changing world with its challenges, obstacles, and uncertainty. We have the agency to protect our energy, keep our sanity, and reduce our stress.
Take a minute for self-reflection. Ask yourself:
- How are you currently showing up?
- Are you creating space and community for positive dialogue and engagement?
- Are you part of the problem or part of the solution?
- Is your personal peace jar positively overflowing or completely empty?
Avoid getting sucked into the negative noise. Have real conversations with your family, friends, and coworkers. Listen. Learn. Lean-in. Control what you can, and meet others where they are, with empathy, compassion, curiosity, and positive intent.
(Want specific advice on handling “office politics? Read my advice to “Professionally and Politically Exhausted in VT” in this month’s Ask Kim!)
Create boundaries for your energy.
I remember during COVID when watching the news fueled my fear and negativity. It got so bad, it triggered me down a negative path that quickly spiraled out of control.
To avoid this energy-wasting cycle, I created a boundary: I quit watching the news. Instead, I relied on my husband, Jason, for a quick update each day. This kept me informed without spiraling into the negative statistics or feeding my fears.
It’s super important to choose where you focus your energy. For me, boundaries are a great way to channel energy into positive places and people.
Boundaries keep me centered and grounded. Boundaries fuel my Momentum Mindset. Boundaries keep me safe from unnecessary negative situations. Boundaries allow me to consciously control what I allow in my life—and what we allow is what will continue. I LOVE boundaries!
Remember, you get to direct your energy every day. You have the power to use fear as fuel to focus forward on the possibility.
You get to choose:
- To curate content that uplifts you instead of drowns you.
- To lead with love instead of letting fear distance you from others.
- To show up for yourself in a positive way with a Momentum Mindset.
Whether you are struggling with how to handle office politics during election season or how to handle political discussions at any time of year, I encourage you to focus on connection instead of conflict.
Find positive ways to navigate “the new angry” and direct your energy in ways that add to your emotional and physical health. Create boundaries that support and protect what is important to you, and do what you can to minimize the impact of fears and negativity. Together we can choose to be stronger and better together. As one of my core values states:
BETTER TOGETHER
We understand the power of community, shared humanity, and our collective resilience. We’re not meant to do life and work alone. We need each other. Authentic, vulnerable, and transparent connection is the heartbeat of life—and leadership.
Here’s to being BETTER TOGETHER!
Momentum Reflection: What’s one positive way you can navigate conflict and strengthen connections with family, friends, and peers in a world that seems to always disagree. Share with me on LinkedIn.
