In case you haven’t noticed, election season is upon us. Okay, I joke because the headlines and the commercials have become comical, if not pathetic.
So what is a leader to do? Should you share your views? Should you engage in political discussions with your team members? Should you make the case to your organization why one candidate should be preferred over another because of the impact to the company?
As I tell people I advise, “You can say whatever you want. That is your prerogative.” I quickly follow up with, “But if you want to strengthen your leadership, if you want to work toward unifying your team, if you want to build your credibility as a leader, then I strongly suggest you do more listening than speaking. Avoid discussing politics and keep them guessing as to your affiliation. There is really nothing good which can come from you sharing your political views – you will upset 50% of your team, and this will subtly undermine your leadership.
Your responsibility and obligation as a leader is to keep your team focused on the organization’s vision and to reduce/minimize distractions for reaching that vision.