“Team” is defined by Dictionary.com as “a number of persons associated in some joint action.”
As the CEO, you are the leader of a team. Your opportunity, and the purpose for your role in the organization, is to create an environment which allows your individual members to contribute their talents while complementing the talents of the others. You are responsible for unifying this group of individuals in pursuit of a common goal. You are a team builder. You are the Chief Unifying Officer of the team.
The following 3 topics can be “dividers” and discussing these should be avoided or approached with great care and for the purpose of bringing people together . Sure you have opinions, and in our great country you certainly have a right to share these opinions. However, discretion being the better part of valor, you must remember you are the leader, and as the leader your primary role is that of a Chief Unifying Officer, and it is your responsibility to rise above that which divides people and to consistently work to unify your team.
Politics
Statistically, roughly 45% of your team will be Republicans, 45% will be Democrats and 10% will consider themselves neither. So if you discuss politics, you will likely alienate 55% of your team. WOW! (Your goal, if you want to focus your team on the work and the team’s objectives, should be to keep people guessing about your political persuasion. Spend more time listening than talking.) I realize this is difficult in today’s climate, but your responsibility as the leader is to focus the team by minimizing distractions. Your politics can be a major distraction.
Religion
This has been a divisive topic for over 2000 years, and I suspect it will continue to be so – unfortunately. Discussing religion, particularly in the context of current events and the latest headlines, can generate emotions which may divide your team. Your responsibility as the leader is to minimize the divisiveness; therefore, you should avoid discussing religion. (While you can’t stop your team members from discussing current events, you can guide any discussions away from the negative and towards a unifying message.)
Race/Ethnicity
Race/Ethnicity continues to be a sensitive subject in our society, and it is a topic which can quickly elevate emotions. Everyone has an opinion; however, not everyone has the same opinion. Discussions can quickly devolve. My advice is to respect these differences (diversity can be a competitive advantage for your team) and to treat your team members equally.
When you accepted the responsibility of being a leader, you obligated yourself to unifying those whom you are leading. You left the role of individual contributor in which you were “one of the guys or one of the gals” and accepted the responsibility of focusing on what is best for an entire team. In a world of so many distractions and divisions, you will serve your team well by focusing on actions which focus and unify them and minimize those which divide them.