Opening Insights: Game On!
The Game of Divide and Conquer Has Entered Our Workplace...
Political and personal divides are affecting and infecting our workplaces and cultures as a whole.
Informational Insights: Politics are Taking Their Toll
Political discussions can have a negative impact in the workplace.
"We did the survey last fall in the lead-up to the election and found, indeed, all these discussions swirling around at work were affecting people on the job. So, on the heels of the election, we were curious about how that might have changed," Dr. David Ballard, director of the American Psychological Association's Center for Organizational Excellence, told CBS News
The online survey of 1,311 full- and part-time workers, conducted between February and March of 2017 by Harris Poll for the American Psychological Association, found more than half of workers — 54 percent — have discussed politics on the job since the election.
And those conversations appear to be taking a toll. Twenty-six percent of workers reported feeling tense or stressed in the latest survey, compared to 17 percent before the election. Twenty-one percent felt cynical and negative during the workday, compared with 15 percent pre-election.
Those emotions can negatively affect relationships at work, dampen productivity and create a more hostile work environment, Ballard said.
For 40 percent of American workers surveyed, exchanging political views has led to at least one negative outcome, such as poorer work quality, difficulty getting work done or developing a more negative view of a coworker. It's a big jump from the pre-election survey results that found 27 percent reported at least one negative outcome.
Possibilities for Consideration: So what do we do?
The answer is not to suppress communication or divide people. The answer is to unite!
The questions is often NOT What to do, but how to do it!
The answer is to unite, but how do we implement a believable and achievable solution?
Pocket Wisdom Insights Collaboration Laboratories (Co-Labs) offer Businesses, Organizations and Communities a gateway to unity!
Co-Labs offer organizations a way to create a cohesive, collaborative and creative team environment while supporting individuality and perspectives.
Co-Labs allow businesses to support their employees in their professional responsibilities while maintaining individual differences of opinion, thus supporting an environment in which people can maintain focus on their job. and not let difference of opinion get in the way of business.
Take a moment and examine…
- As you reviewed the material above, what stood out to you?
- What is the potential impact, economically and/or socially?
- What action is needed to stop or support this idea?
- You may want to consider whether you:
- want to be aware of,
- should become supportive of,
- would want to be active in this topic?
Add Your Insight
I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply.
Being willing is not enough; we must do.
LEONARDO DA VINCI