In today’s polarized climate, politics often seeps into various aspects of life, including the workplace. However, integrating political opinions and discussions at work can create conflict, discomfort, and reduce productivity. It is critical for employees, especially supporters in a business environment, to maintain an apolitical stance to preserve a harmonious and focused workplace. This article will discuss strategies for employees to remain apolitical, how to politely advise others to refrain from political discussions, and tips for managing political activities outside the workplace.

Sources for this Article:

1. Black, J.S. et al (2012). Organizational Behavior. OpenStax. Rice University, 13.3 (accessed on 01 October 2024 at https://openstax.org/books/organizational-behavior/pages/13-3-political-behavior-in-organizations).

2. Rage Against the Machine. ratm.com.

3. Schneider, G.S. (2017). Che Was a Racist, Homophobe and Mass Murderer. Human Progress Blog Post.

4. Shaw, L. (2024). Netflix Cancellations Spiked After Reed Hastings Donated to Kamala Harris. Bloomberg.

In a broader sense, politics is defined as “the resolution of differing preferences in conflicts over the allocation of scarce and valued resources” (Black, J.S. et al., 2012). In a simpler sense, it is taking sides at work. In a more detrimental sense, it is harassing or enforcing political views on other employees without consent. Politics is a symptom or result of human interaction forming groups. So whether it is political party ideologies, political maneuvering, or controversial subjects, I want to give you the reader some tips to manage politics in your workplace.

Politics is impossible to avoid because it derives from “an absence of established rules and procedures and a reliance on ambiguous and subjective criteria” (Black, J.S. et al, 2012). We see a need to resource an event, group, or person, and we establish the rules for that resourcing. Others might disagree with that decision and political maneuvering ensues. Readers should remember that politics will happen in your workplace especially as scarcity gets greater and when uncertainty increases.

What political climate we want to avoid in the office is on resources or ideas that have little to no interest in the organization. In cases where politics have an impact on the business, it is still prudent to avoid heated discussions at work and supporters should never impose their views onto others. It is always better to pick your arguments well and avoid controversial subjects, especially if others are not consenting (cubicles do not offer soundproofing). Supporters must know what political discussions are taboo, remain cognizant of what conversations they engage in, and when to stay silent.

Remaining Apolitical in the Workplace.

Remaining apolitical in the workplace is not about hiding one’s beliefs or being passive, but about recognizing that professional settings function best when focused on shared goals rather than divisive topics. Employees can maintain an apolitical stance by refraining from initiating political conversations, avoiding public displays of political affiliations (e.g., wearing buttons, displaying posters), and ensuring that their social media presence does not bring political controversy into work-related discussions. By choosing to keep political opinions private, supporters can protect the collaborative nature of the workplace and avoid the risks of alienating others with differing viewpoints.

As an interesting example, I offer the band Rage Against the Machine. Band Members Brad, Tim, Tom, and Zack originated in 1991, in Orange County, California (ratm.com). They were widely known as political activists in the music world. In fact, in concerts that I attended, there were always political activist booths set up in the arenas, outside the stadiums, or inside the venues they played. Even their music is charged with political commentary and lyrics.

The band, when inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, claims they were the first band to shut down the New York Stock Exchange, sue the U.S. State Department, and help support Mexican rebel Zapatista (ratm.com). The lead singer Zack was also well known for wearing a shirt and supporting Che Guevara. Both of these leaders are communists. The reason I mentioned this is that as a former fan, this is the point that I learned the first lesson of not bringing politics into work.

If you are against government oppression and the evils of tyrants, like this band espoused, the worst thing you can do is support communism or socialism. That form of government has oppressed and killed more people than any other ideology in the history of humanity. My point is that their views are hypocritical, and if you express political views like this at work, you risk others finding you untrustworthy and less productive within your team. As a supporter, taking on hypocritical political views is a great way to eliminate you from a cohesive team.

I am not saying that you can never discuss political topics or even erase politics from human interactions, including at work. I am saying that if you do decide to discuss politics as a business, or at work, you should choose to not take sides or focus on the facts. You can remain apolitical by not taking sides. This allows you to highlight something that happened without joining a particular viewpoint, which is important if that ideology is horrific. Representing a political ideology with only facts also allows you to discuss those beliefs as an observer rather than a participant. It would have resonated differently if the band had just said people are fighting in Mexico for their independence. Instead, they choose to participate, hypocritically from their music’s message, and alienate part of their fans. 

Predictively, I was not the only one who noticed the political stance and became a former fan. Especially when learning that their support for Che Guevara, and others like him, was supporting a racist, homophobe, and mass murderer (Schneider, G.S., 2017). It was the nail in the coffin for my support for the band. I learned when you take political stances at work, you risk alienating customers and profits. It also shows that some topics require severe limitations or outright banning for being grossly offensive.

Another outright ban should be an employee who harasses others with political views. Someone who inputs their opinions into conversations they were not invited into or imposes their political views onto others in the office. This pushes people away to working with other members on that team or finding other ways to work around that employee. People are excluded from events, work, and productivity. Instead of developing positive topics that are appropriate or valuable, the team is weakened.

Fostering an inclusive environment often means recognizing that not all topics are appropriate for every setting. Politics can ignite strong emotions and create unnecessary divisions among teams that should focus on collaboration. Supporters reducing dangerous political discussions can focus on shared professional objectives and finding common ground within the business context. Helping employees work together harmoniously, regardless of their personal political beliefs.

However, political conversations at work are not the only detrimental form of politics. Human interactions between people will always generate political dynamics when resources are in question. This is a key part of business, making politics at work an inevitability. But since politics can benefit those interactions, politics is not inherently bad, I will label the negative aspects of politics at work as power corruption.

Power corruption occurs when someone tries to undercut a leader or attempts to seize informal power without credentials. You may have witnessed an employee who always tries to take charge, but when in charge, fumbles their way through the project. Maybe you encountered that person that tears others down to give them the appearance of power. Each, and other examples like it, are political plays to control resources. Resources such as attention, time, top-rated performance reviews, or funds. 

Power corruption is a quick way to create a negative work culture. Supporters should focus on team efficiency over how much better they are over the rest. I was taught as a young officer that there is no better indicator of a good officer than success. Once I learned to directly impact my success, I was taught to impact others’ success. Success created a better work environment and a positive culture that others wanted to join. Instead of in-fighting and power plays, we accomplished our goals and spent our precious time winning. Eventually, we celebrated as a team versus focusing on how to undermine the next team that showed promise. This also held much more value as a top-rated evaluation.

Power corruption compromises good ethics by using negative politics and creates a lack of innovation. A team or supporter that introduces a new way of accomplishing the company’s goals is met with “a barrage of resistance from different sectors of the company” (Black, J.S. et al, 2012). Employees use the “famous ‘not-invented-here syndrome,’ the tendency of competing groups to fight over turf, and the inclination to criticize and destroy any new proposal that threatens to change the status quo. Other groups within the company simply see little reason to be supportive of the idea” (Black, J.S. et al, 2012). Political opinions over resources become the stagnation that kills your organization.

It is a difficult situation to avoid. The critical piece for an apolitical workplace in this situation is to remain professional and supportive. Everyone needs to fight for the resources they need. Networking and informing leaders is a better and more efficient way to get those resources. Negative culture appears from jealousy, back-stabbing, and tribalism. When supporters develop an us versus them attitude, it does nothing to help your business. It is no longer positive competition but cliques. Politics becomes central to getting what you can, post-apocalyptic style, rather than facts and innovation.

An apolitical environment thrives on mutual trust between teams. Supporters who present facts that best relay their requirements over time will win their leader’s resource decisions. You shouldn’t need to back-stab another supporter to get what you need, and you shouldn’t need to tear down new ideas just to get ahead. If you do not agree with an idea, consider why, and present that in a professional manner. Let the facts determine the decisions and who should get the resources that are needed. You will find this builds a positive culture where everyone can succeed in their endeavors.

Advising Others to Avoid Political Discussions.

Supporters who witness colleagues engaging in political discussions may need to step in and guide the conversation toward more productive, work-related topics. This can be done tactfully by shifting the focus and reminding colleagues of the professional setting. Phrases like, ‘I understand you’re passionate about this, but let’s focus on the project at hand,’ or ‘we should discuss it after work,’ can help gently steer the discussion away from potentially divisive topics.

Listening to others is a great way to learn topics that are normal or taboo. When you are discussing something and someone says they don’t want to talk about it, this is a good sign that this topic is not safe for work. Supporters can also provide topics that are not appropriate to their leaders. Working as a team to reduce political topics that are taboo is a good exercise in positive team dynamics.

In more formal contexts, companies can create policies that promote professional conduct and discourage political discussions, especially when they distract from work tasks. Supporters and employees in leadership positions can advocate for and uphold these policies, helping ensure the workplace remains neutral and focused. They can also serve as role models by emphasizing the importance of inclusion, respect, and focusing on common professional goals.

When political discussion gets out of hand, supporters and leaders can admit their mistakes and work to remedy the infraction. Many conversations that went sour can be easily remedied with a simple apology and insistence to work out a solution. Supporters should recognize good faith discussions and allow for those situations to repair themselves.

For power corruption, it is important to understand where leadership is formally established. As a supporter, do your best not to cut others out, or belittle others for your gain. As we talked about last week, don’t use rumors to take advantage of your fellow employees or your leaders. If you do not know who is in charge, ensure that your leaders assign leadership appropriately.

Another way to reduce power corruption is to hold your comments about what another team is doing if you have nothing to do with them or their project. The adage of ‘stick to your lane’ applies to avoiding political conversations just as much as remaining competent at work. Wise supporters know when they need to speak and when they need to listen.

Supporters who use power corruption as a work ethic eventually find themselves alone and unsuccessful. I often find that people get short gains, or successes, only to trade them with failures or struggles long term. How you treat others does get reflected upon you in time. It also erodes trust and confidence throughout the team. In my articles, trust is a major part of building a great place to work. As we discussed above, if you want the best evaluation for bonuses or promotions, your best actions are to personally succeed and then help others to succeed.

Join Mark Folkerts’s subscriber chat

Available in the Substack app and on web

Join chat

Managing Political Life Separate From the Workplace

In our Week 38 article, we discussed social media for leaders. Supporters have a role as well making sure they make good decisions when posting on social media. Ensuring that sensitive material is withheld or operational secrets are not exposed is part of the decisions you should make before hitting that submit button. Using private accounts to discuss political topics might be ok in your organization, but remember to remain legal and learn the lessons from this article as well.

It is natural for employees to have political views and engage in political activities outside of work. However, managing the separation between personal political life and professional responsibilities is crucial. Employees should ensure that their political engagement, including any social media posts or public activities, remains independent of their professional lives. This is especially important in roles where political statements may be associated with the company, potentially creating reputational risks.

To effectively manage this separation, employees can adopt practices such as compartmentalizing their social media presence by maintaining separate professional and personal accounts. Additionally, being mindful of privacy settings and how public posts may be perceived can help protect an individual’s professional standing. Ensuring that personal political activities are conducted outside work hours and not using company resources for political purposes are also essential for maintaining the separation. (Check out Week 38 for more tips).

Also, understanding what political views are detrimental versus those political opinions that are more mundane can save you from meeting with human resources or leadership. It can also help you avoid legal actions, lawsuits, or administrative actions. Posting that you are glad a group of people were killed will spotlight negative opinions on you that not many organizations will be fond of you saying even off duty. Conversely, posting a horrible incident that happened is reporting on facts and most businesses would find it mundane. See the difference?

A great example of this just happened in July 2024. The Netflix Executive Chairman, Reed Hastings, posted on x.com that he supported Kamela Harris and hoped she would win the upcoming election in the U.S.A. He also stated in an interview that he donated $7 million to the Democrat Party. Although Reed Hastings did not do this on behalf of Netflix, “three days later after the donation became public, July 26, was the single worst day for Netflix cancellations this year” (Shaw, L., 2024). I doubt these two events were coincidental.

You might take these events as to never talk about politics or a CEO should not get political. I would argue, and after reading this article I hoped you would agree, that it is impossible to separate from politics. The takeaway from Mr. Hasting’s actions is that he made it public. Almost, gloated about how he was helping a particular political side to win. If Mr. Hastings, who we all knew supported previous Democratic Party candidates and policies, made a donation privately and never discussed it, I believe that there would have been a different outcome.

In that case, even if that donation was leaked, and he made it clear it was private, Netflix would not have incurred such a loss. The lesson learned for leaders and supporters is that you have political opinions, and it can be effective to share those opinions in the right settings. Share them appropriately, make sure it is stated that they are your private opinions, and never force your beliefs onto others. If we can live in such a way, I believe your workplace will thrive, business will not suffer, and you might bring back some sanity to your private life.

Maintaining an apolitical workplace is critical for fostering unity and collaboration. By focusing on shared professional goals, tactfully advising colleagues to avoid political discussions, and maintaining clear boundaries between political and professional life, employees can help create a harmonious work environment. These strategies promote productivity and protect the organization from potential conflicts and divisions that can arise from political engagement at work.

"The currency of real networking is not greed but generosity." -- Keith Ferrazzi

Networking is a crucial aspect of professional development, especially for supporters within a business environment. Supporters, whether they be employees, team members, or advisors, play an essential role in the success of an organization by connecting, sharing knowledge, and fostering relationships that benefit the company. The value of networking extends beyond mere personal advancement; it supports business growth, opens doors to new opportunities, and strengthens the organization's external presence. This article explores the benefits of networking in the business context, specifically for supporters, and offers actionable tips on how to network effectively.

Sources for this article:

1. Burt, R. S. (2000). The network structure of social capital. Research in Organizational Behavior, 22, 345-423.

2. Forret, M. L., & Dougherty, T. W. (2004). Networking behaviors and career outcomes: Differences for men and women? Journal of Organizational Behavior, 25(3), 419-437. 

3. Higgins, M. C., & Kram, K. E. (2001). Reconceptualizing mentoring at work: A developmental network perspective. Academy of Management Review, 26(2), 264-288.

4. Ibarra, H., & Hunter, M. (2007). How leaders create and use networks. Harvard Business Review, 85(1), 40-47.

5. Mehra, A., Kilduff, M., & Brass, D. J. (2001). The social networks of high and low self-monitors: Implications for workplace performance. Administrative Science Quarterly, 46(1), 121-146.

As I attend the Association for the United States Army Annual Meeting this week, I am reminded of the network we have in the military. The meeting is three days of briefings, panels, and presentations from military, business, and contract personnel discussing all facets of military life. This year’s annual meeting focused on transforming for a complex world. Throughout the meeting, I bumped into people that I have served with, people that I heard of from respectable Soldiers, and even friends I made along my career.

In one of my encounters, I met up with a Soldier that worked for me and we discussed our new employment choices. We discussed ways to improve our business life and of course we laughed about what once was. Stories and merriment abound. It reminded me how important it is to network and how much we can benefit. It is more than just a morale boost, or bouncing ideas, but it is a connection that means everything to traveling through life. If you still don’t agree, let’s talk about the benefits.

Benefits of Networking for Supporters.

1. Increased Access to Resources and Opportunities

Networking enables supporters to access a wealth of resources, such as industry knowledge, partnerships, and new business opportunities. These connections often provide information about market trends, competitor activities, and upcoming innovations, helping to inform business strategies and decisions. Studies show that professionals who engage in networking are more likely to discover new career opportunities and industry trends earlier than those who do not (Forret & Dougherty, 2004). This early access to information can significantly enhance the performance of the business by keeping the team ahead of the curve.

Attending the annual meeting has opened many doors to possibilities that I have, or have not, even considered. I received several job offers, contract requests, and a lot of new ideas. I even ran into competitors to my business models, and contrary to what you might think, we were both more willing to share with each other than to cut each other out of the market. Networking at this annual meeting has generated a tremendous amount of opportunities. (Join up at ausa.org).

Conferences like these are one way to network and leverage external resources for problem-solving. There are many other ways to directly and indirectly use your network in this way. For instance, if an employee is faced with a technical challenge, they may reach out to someone in their network who has faced a similar issue. This collaborative approach not only solves immediate problems but also fosters long-term relationships that can be beneficial in future scenarios.

During one of my many run-ins with past Soldiers, we started discussing his product that he wants to sell to the Army. Throughout the conversation and reminiscing, we ended up discussing new strategies to get into the door. We hope that our discussions yield new ways to show the Army the importance of his system and possibly a contract. Setting his business up for a lucrative end. All beginning with us reaching out to each other and starting a conversations about tanks.

2. Enhanced Business Development and Collaboration

Networking is a vital tool for fostering collaborations and partnerships that support business development. When supporters engage with industry peers, they often share knowledge, best practices, and innovations. This can lead to collaborative projects or strategic partnerships that bring value to both parties. Networking also helps supporters understand the external business environment, including potential threats and opportunities, allowing them to adapt more effectively and contribute insights that support the company's strategic objectives.

I met a person who writes articles on military topics and publishes collective works for the military community. Although some of our articles overlap, much of it is military specific topics. He had several lessons learned on starting up his business that may help me. The best part of it all is that we can collaborate between each other and enrich each other's business. Improving and developing for the betterment of our employees.

This type of networking helps organizations remain visible in their industry. Supporters who engage in networking on behalf of their company contribute to the organization's reputation, helping to build trust and credibility. A strong network of supporters also enhances the organization’s access to talent, vendors, and even potential clients. I met people in all facets of life that I can support, hire, or collaborate on business aspects.

I was able to talk about my business and the articles I have written to many people at the annual meeting. I discussed opportunities to bounce ideas and enhance our writing with them. This will support building our reputations and improve my articles for you the reader. As the network benefits each other, we can even guest write or leave supportive comments. In the end is a collective work of writers and readers working to improve each other, my goal for The Davark Group.

3. Personal and Professional Growth

For supporters, networking serves as an avenue for personal and professional growth. Through networking, they are exposed to new ideas, mentorship opportunities, and diverse perspectives that contribute to their development. Mentorship and professional relationships gained through networking can offer valuable career guidance, foster skill development, and increase confidence in their roles within the organization (Higgins & Kram, 2001).

I met another officer I have served with who has built several successful companies. After talking about my goals he wanted to talk again and help me with my endeavors. Having the opportunity, even if it is just bouncing ideas off him, will lead to my development. I will be able to improve on leadership, business navigation, and avoid pitfalls that arise from any startup. His help will be beneficial to getting my businesses going.

Additionally, networking fosters self-awareness and emotional intelligence as supporters navigate diverse personalities and professional cultures. Learning how to build rapport, communicate effectively, and create meaningful professional relationships are crucial skills that enhance workplace dynamics and improve organizational success. When you are meeting different people from different cultures, you build a hard drive of acceptable behaviors.

The military has a strong culture and strict etiquette. Walking around as a civilian for the first time since I retired was awkward. There was a level of familiarity with meeting senior leaders and discussing certain topics, but I had to make a change on how I approached things. It took some work, but I was able to develop a way to discuss topics appropriately within this culture based on my status. This way in turn allowed me to have more conversations with people that may have not given me time when I was in the military. Learning to be more aware and how I can make it work for me to benefit everyone developed from this networking experience.

In much of the techniques that I worked on, learning to help others first was important to setting up that rapport. It does you no help to immediately talk about how they can help you. It is great to start with a reminiscing story or establish commonalities, but as you mold the conversation, start with how you can assist them in their endeavors. In some cases, just getting your foot in the door with fun conversation will take you farther in the future than trying to jump right into business. In the next section, we are going to analyze some networking techniques for our premium members. Join now to chat, discuss, and recommend topics you want to explore.