How to navigate political conversations at work

Politics has always been a sensitive subject that most people are reluctant to get into, especially at work. Even so, in the past, people who were at opposite ends of the political spectrum were usually able to find common ground and maintain cordial relationships despite not seeing eye to eye on certain issues. That doesn't seem to be the case nowadays, though. The internet and social media algorithms have created informational echo chambers that often only expose users to one side of a story, resulting in a constantly increasing wedge between the two dominant political ideologies.

This is especially true in an election year. Politicians on both sides of the political aisle fuel this division by presenting their opponents as an existential threat to the nation, resulting in an increasingly polarized political landscape. This tends to seep into most aspects of our lives, including work. Having strong political views is fine, and not being interested in politics is also fine, but discussions on this topic are likely to come up at work. When they do, being able to navigate them in a way that doesn't affect your professional relationships is a useful skill.

How to discuss politics in the workplace

You may be able to avoid political discussions altogether, which is probably wise. If you do get involved in a discussion that involves political views, it's best to be prepared. Consider taking these steps when navigating political talk to maintain healthy professional relationships with your coworkers.

Assess the workplace culture and your coworkers' personalities

Some workplaces encourage open discussions on any topic, while others tend to prefer that employees keep personal talk to a minimum. You can make an initial decision regarding how involved you want to get in a political discussion based on the company's culture. If management has no issue with employees debating various topics, this gives you some leeway to get deeper into the issue, should you choose to. If you feel they'd prefer to keep things purely professional between employees, you can use this as a valid excuse to avoid this type of discussion.

The same goes for your colleagues' personalities. If you've observed the person or people involved in the political conversation in similar situations, you probably have a rough idea about their overall character. You can make an educated guess about whether they may be open to having a fair and balanced conversation with you or if they're likely to become overly passionate and escalate the discussion into a full-blown argument.

These initial assessments can help you decide how to proceed in the political discussion.

Try to stay neutral

Even if you have strong political views, it's best to stay as neutral and disengaged as possible when having conversations on political topics at work. You may think that once they're presented with what you consider to be irrefutable facts, the other person will see things more clearly and agree with your views. That rarely happens, though. People generally form political opinions based on raw emotions rather than logic, so they're likely to ignore or reject your arguments.

This is why, if you choose to engage in political conversations, it makes sense to approach them from a neutral standpoint. This may also help you avoid your own biases, as taking a neutral stance forces you to see things from a different perspective.

Look for common ground

Political issues are rarely black or white. Even if you disagree with your coworkers during a political discussion, it helps to adopt a mindset where your goal isn't to convince them that they're wrong or that you're better informed than they are. Focus instead of finding aspects that you both agree on and try to build from there.

Acknowledge that there are different perspectives to every issue and show a clear willingness to understand those that are opposite to yours. This can make the conversation seem less confrontational, and there's a chance that you'll eventually find many things you agree on.

Stay professional

Remember that your professional status and relationship with your coworkers are more important than proving someone wrong in a political argument. Never let the conversation get too heated, and end it on a cordial note when you feel it starts to get out of hand. Walking away from a tense conversation can help you maintain your well-being and professional focus while also signaling to those involved that you're all there to do your jobs, not argue over politics.

Avoid interacting with coworkers' political social media posts

The internet and social media have greatly contributed to the increasing political divide between people. If you follow your coworkers on social media, it's a good idea to avoid interacting with their political posts. Even if you feel they're clearly wrong and get a strong urge to comment and present the facts, keep in mind that there's nothing to gain from this. This type of social media interaction can negatively affect workplace dynamics, and it will make it much harder for you and your coworkers to find common ground.

"Having strong political views is fine, and not being interested in politics is also fine, but discussions on this topic are likely to come up at work. When they do, being able to navigate them in a way that doesn't affect your professional relationships is a useful skill."

Tips on having civil and productive political conversations at work

These tips can help you navigate challenging political conversations at work without affecting your professional output and relationships with your colleagues:

Avoid conversations on topics you're particularly passionate about. We all have specific issues that are important to us. However, discussing these with coworkers may trigger an emotional response from you that you'll later regret, so it's best to avoid them.
Show genuine curiosity about other people's views. If a coworker's views are different from yours, it helps to ask questions to make sure you fully understand why they hold those views. In addition to promoting a friendly and civil conversation, exploring opposing views with genuine curiosity may help you refine your own.
Know when to end the conversation. Even if you try to stay as neutral and nonconfrontational as you can, a subject that's as emotionally charged as politics can always lead to heated discussions. Although it may be challenging to do in the heat of the moment, whenever you feel that the conversation starts to heat up, it's best to find a polite way to end it right then and there.
Be mindful of other people's backgrounds. When discussing political subjects with your coworkers, it helps to keep in mind that they may be more emotionally invested than you are. Some political policies and agendas might have a direct impact on them and their communities, so you may want to be careful when discussing potentially sensitive issues.
Remember that you're in a professional setting. The most important thing that you must keep in mind when navigating political conversations at work is that your top priority is your professional future. You're not there to convince anyone of anything; you're there to make a living and grow your professional status.

There's a thin line between our personal and professional lives, and it seems to get more blurry as technology advances. Tech progress has made working and applying for jobs easier, but it has also opened the door to online job applications, after-hours work emails, and social media connections with coworkers. This is why it's important to set boundaries and not allow politics to affect your career.