The 2020 Election Day is here. On Tuesday, November 3, voters will finish casting their ballots for president and for a number of other political positions. It could just be me, but this year’s election seems much more filled with very intense emotions. Georgia has become a battleground state, so emotions are really running high, and all kinds of last-minute rallies are happening here. Regardless of whether people are pro-Biden or pro-Trump, they tend to feel very strongly about their preference. (I’ve heard there are some undecided voters out there, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at social media.)
Here’s what’s interesting to me – how much fear plays into the equation. We aren’t just hopeful for the good things our candidate might do. We’re afraid of what will happen or what won’t happen if the other candidate wins. For some, fear might even be the deciding factor.
When you hear interviews of voters being asked why they prefer their chosen candidate, listen closely to their responses. Occasionally, they mention what they like about their preferred candidate and maybe some policies they agree with. But they almost always talk about what they don’t want. What their candidate won’t be like or won’t do. Even when they talk about why they like their preferred candidate, it’s often with this kind of negative wording that’s hinting of fear – “At least he won’t do this” or “I can’t live in a country that’s like this.”
And think of all of the political ads we’ve been seeing and all the political mailings we’ve been receiving! So many of them are focused on instilling fear in us of what terrible things will or won’t happen if the other candidate is elected.
There’s certainly importance in doing your research and taking elections seriously. This election matters. It’s vital to know what each candidate stands for and make an informed voting decision. What I’m focusing on here is how much fear can start taking over. Fear of what could happen. Fear of how our lives might be impacted. In some cases, that fear might be justified. In others, it’s unknown – time will tell. For leaders, that can create a tough workplace environment post-Election Day.
I advocate allowing political conversations at work. Doing so makes the aftermath of Election Day much easier for everyone because you already have a workplace that’s more respectful and empathetic. As strong as the opinions may have been before the election, they can be even more intense afterwards. Even if we don’t have election results by midnight (which happens sometimes), we will at some point. Some people will be elated while others will be devastated. Some will be hopeful while others will be concerned.
Most workplaces are filled with employees who will have voted both ways in the election, so chances are, you’ll have employees all along the spectrum of emotions. As a leader, what can you do to help your employees after Election Day to process their emotions (whether happy or discouraged) and focus their energy into creating a positive future?
Be kind and empathetic. If your candidate wins, be a gracious winner. You can be ecstatic while remembering that not everyone feels the same way. It’s easy to understand how disappointed you would be if your candidate didn’t win; it can be harder to understand how the emotion could be the same on the other side if roles were reversed. Remember that the same emotions can exist on both sides.
Remain grounded in a shared identity. Take this as an opportunity to provide stability and security by reminding your team who you are together and pointing them forward. While it is hugely important who our next President is, we each play a crucial role in what our day-to-day life looks like and feels like. Our responsibility in that realm will remain the same, regardless of who’s elected to any office. Remind your team of your core values, what you all stand for together, and what you’re working to accomplish together.
Post-Election Day can be even more challenging than the weeks leading up to it because of the intense feelings of triumph and defeat that emerge. By guiding your employees to focus on what they do have control over, you can help them take beneficial next steps in creating a future we can all collectively be proud of.
(On a side note, make sure you also provide paid time off to vote!)
Photo credit: By Prostock-Studio / Canva
