Let’s be honest, we all knew this political season was going to be a disaster. So far it has lived up to my wildest expectations. The parties are the most divisive they’ve ever been and politicians are slinging mud like it’s a preschool playground. I know you have opinions, and so do I. But this post isn’t about opinions. This is about how you express those opinions, respectfully, as a business person.
When it comes to politics in the workplace, less is more. To keep yourself from alienating customers, it’s best to keep your opinions to yourself. Before you speak, think. What if you end up trash talking their party and it loses you a customer? Even worse, what if you are commenting about a local race and say something about their relative? Remember, everyone is related to someone. Double that for anyone born and raised in Butte.
Ah, social media. That addicting, illuminating, and dangerous beast. What do you post about politics? You are, of course, entitled to share your own opinion on your social media accounts. But beware: your page isn’t as private as you think! It’s likely your personal page has been viewed by some of your customers or people who have thought about doing business with you. In fact, you probably have them as friends or followers on your page. I hate to be harsh but if you’re in business, free speech doesn’t exist. Everything you say and do, especially about politics, will be analyzed by your competition, your colleagues, and your customers.
What if they start the conversation? It’s going to happen! People will ask you what you think about the current situation. Here’s my best advice: share your opinion in the most polite way possible. Tact is everything!
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