How to Alienate Coworkers in Under 10 Seconds

So, what did you think of the US election results? Just kidding. I seriously don’t want to know. Nor I suspect, do you want to hear my political views in this type of missive. That brings me to the topic of ‘oversharing’ political opinions in the workplace. In my seminars we often discuss the importance of discretion and what not to share with customers.  But what about political opinions leaders share with their employees? Several years ago, I was speaking at a corporate leadership retreat in the US when another presidential election was pending. During a break, in casual conversation the company president – knowing I was from Canada – asked my opinion on the candidates. I used the excuse that I wasn’t following US politics (a lie). He then made a comment to the small group of execs who joined us about his favourite. It occurred to me that any employee who was planning on voting for the other party was suddenly going to feel like an outsider. Completely preventable.

My experience has been that unless we’re paid to make political commentaries, our opinions are often better left unsaid. Yes, we should be informed and vote. But expressing political commentaries either at work or publicly in social media in your own name can significantly damage your brand (another word for reputation, and ultimately clout). My sense is there are already too many pontificators trying to sway opinions – opinions that are likely entrenched anyway. Like many hard earned life lessons – often the wisest course is knowing when to remain silent.