Politics Are for the Voting Booth, Not the Office

Oct. 30, 2006 — -- It's hard to miss all of the attack ads on television this political season. But last week while in Texas, I watched the attacks move from the tube to the table at a business conference.

My colleague expressed surprise -- bordering on disgust -- at a political ad that boasted an exclusive endorsement for one candidate by the NRA. "That's certainly nothing to brag about," she said.

Two other attendees at the conference turned toward her and sharply said, "And what exactly is wrong with that?" Sensing the tension, she backed down, clearly not realizing that her snootiness had offended them.

Smart, savvy business people pride themselves on keeping up with current events, politics and even newsmaker gossip so they always have interesting tidbits to contribute to small talk at meetings, parties and social outings. They know that idle chit-chat is awfully valuable in building professional relationships because it allows people to connect on a relaxed, personal level.

But that same small talk can backfire when it's highly opinionated and possibly offensive to others. While there's little harm in sharing your pick for the World Series, there's surely the potential for sparks when siding with political candidates in the workplace.

During the last presidential election, an associate told a story during a meeting about his young daughter asking, very innocently, about the difference between a Democrat and a Republican. His response: "The difference is that democrats care about people and republicans don't."

That not-so-PC reply wouldn't have been a big deal at home, but in the workplace it earned him the cold shoulder of colleagues who strongly disagreed with his assessment of the two parties. About two months after the incident, he was passed over for promotion. To this day, he believes that his big mouth cost him the opportunity for advancement.

As the midterm elections get closer, in the office it's best to refrain from exposing your politics unless you're crystal clear that voicing your beliefs will not alienate anyone. Just because you know a colleague is like-minded in business doesn't mean that you share similar political views.