managing team politics

 Thu 29 Feb 2024

Leading Through Political Polarization

2024 is an election year in many countries, which could present challenges to team dynamics. As a manager, how can you prepare your team for a year of intense political polarization?

(1) Create ground rules of expression with your team. 

For example: Embrace discomfort, be respectful, show grace, give others the benefit of the doubt, speak for yourself, and treat others’ views as legitimate. Be sure to delineate these ground rules clearly—and how you’ll respond if someone violates them.

(2) Establish structured spaces to have difficult conversations. 

For example, you might bring in a panel of speakers with diverse perspectives on an issue, followed by voluntary group discussions where people can speak openly, adhering to the team’s ground rules.

(3) Be a source of stability. 

As a leader, you play a unique and important role in helping your team through turbulence, even if it originates from outside the organization. Model the behaviors you’d like to regularly see on your team, like humility, kindness, and grace—and make yourself available as a support system.

This tip is adapted from “Preparing Your Team for a Year of Intense Political Polarization,” by Ron Carucci and Caroline Mehl