Etiquette Today: Political Conversations
Just in time for the U.S. Presidential election, here are some of our tips on how to manage political conversations, in person, and online.
As our nation heads to the voting booth (or mails in their ballots), we thought some good, old-fashioned political conversation etiquette advice might be worth exploring for all the places where we might encounter political or election conversations. Some of our answers draw on an Intel Mobile Etiquette survey from a previous brand partnership with Intel.
Goals and Awareness
Really think about the purpose of the conversation and whether you should even be having it at this time. What is your goal? Are you seeking information? Hoping to change minds? Venting frustration? Casually musing? Knowing your reasoning will help you as you address the next two things that are important to consider when talking politics.
The phrase “The right time and the right place” is well-used when it comes to political conversations around elections. Always consider the setting and audience before wading into the water cooler fray, dinner party, or family gathering conversation about candidates.
Understanding your audience and situation also helps you moderate the dosage of content you offer to the conversation. Both in terms of how much of the conversational pie you are taking (the more people involved, the smaller your slice) as well as the degree of intensity to which you take the conversation. Saying you plan to vote is different from declaring who you intend to vote for, and that is different from espousing why you are voting for this person. To go even further would be suggesting or trying to convince others to vote for them as well.
When we take the time to be aware of not just what we want to say but why we want to say it and how it will impact the overarching scenario we are in, we are really taking the time to think first before we act, and we have a better chance at not just speaking from emotion and excitement but with purpose and reason while respecting the other participants.
Keep Politics Out of Your Work Feeds
Whether it's an internal messaging channel, your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or LinkedIn, any channel that connects you to business colleagues or prospects isn't the place to post diatribes that attack one political party or an individual candidate.
Beware of The "Online Overshare."
When you post political opinions or information online, there's a good chance that part of your audience is cringing. The Intel Mobile Etiquette survey found that 90 percent of U.S. adults think others share too much information online, and 23 percent say that their top "overshare" pet peeve is reading information about touchy subjects, such as politics, on others' social media posts.
Assume Nothing.
No matter how perceptive you think you are, you can't possibly know someone else's personal beliefs. Don't presume that someone agrees with you--or disagrees, for that matter. Pay attention to whether someone is even participating in the conversation with you. One-word responses are a sign of polite disinterest.
Know When to "Agree to Disagree."
Suppose you do find yourself in a political debate that's getting heated. In that case, you can call it by saying something like, "Well, we disagree on this, and I don’t think we need to change each other's minds. I think we should talk about something else." or “I think it’d be best to leave it and talk about something else. Do you…?” And then ask a question or change the subject to something you can bond over.
Video:
Want more? Check our video on political conversations featuring Anna Post here.
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Thanks for checking out our article today! If you haven’t heard this week’s podcast, you can listen here. Keep an eye out for the Saturday Sip with its Emily Post recipe; that’s up next!
Until then,
Lizzie and Dan
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I wish I could share this on a billboard in downtown OKC!!!!
As someone who works for a political non-profit, my experience with work-place political conversations is a bit different. 😊
But, this advice is so helpful to keep in mind for when I'm out socializing or just in community interactions.