8 Rules of Talking Politics at Work - The Muse

8 Rules of Talking Politics at Work - The Muse8 Rules of Talking Politics at WorkThe golden rule of discussing politics at work is to not discuss politics at work. But with politics being discussed everywhere you look nowadays, its pretty difficult to completely avoid talking about it when youre at the office.With that said, just because it is everywhere doesnt mean that you just bring it up whenever theres a lull in conversation. After all, youve probably seen just how quickly one Facebook status posted by a friend can turn into a full-out comment war. In an effort to avoid that (but not pretend like were all robots who are in a bubble from nine to five), Ive come up with a few new golden rules for having these tough conversations. And then leaving them with your dignity intact.1. Assume the BestIf you kick off a conversation thinking the worst in people, then you wont be able to accept their points as valid, and the whole talking about current events experience will be lousy for ev eryone involved. Assume that the people youre speaking with care about these issues just as much as you do- and they dont disagree with you for the sake of disagreeing with you, but rather because of their own set of beliefs and values. 2. Stay InformedIf youre planning to have these conversations at work, it would be in your best interest to stay informed as to whats happening. And that doesnt just mean reading tweets or sticking to the same blog you check every day. No, if you want to have a good conversation, you should be getting your information from a variety of sources. Not only will this bolster your points, but itll probably also open your eyes a bit.3. Use I StatementsEven if you think your opinion should be the law of the land, you should start every sentence with I think. Because even if the other person agrees with you, its never a good idea to put words in someone elses mouth. And if you start to hear yourself saying You it might be time to step away, because the only thing that follows you in these conversations is usually an accusation. 4. ListenBe prepared to listen twice as much as you talk. If youre starting this discussion just to hear your own voice and get validation for your opinions- stop, save it for your friends. Only jump in if youre trying to move the conversation forward, not if youre trying to win it. 5. Ask QuestionsIt isnt enough just to listen to others speak. You can figure out where theyre coming from simply by asking a few open-ended questions. Questions like Can you explain that a bit more? or Would you mind sharing how you came to that conclusion? tend to work wonders in keeping the conversation civil. And hey, you might just learn something and change your own mind.6. Choose Your Battles (and Battlegrounds) WiselyWhen you overhear people in the kitchen talking about a situation thats near and dear to your heart, take a beat before jumping in. Is this your CEO and COO? If so, are you sure you want to risk offending them wi th your viewpoints on international policy? If it is people you feel comfortable going back and forth with, is this the right place to do it? Do you think everyone in the kitchen will feel comfortable (and not want to run to HR) when the conversations over? 7. Know When to Step AwayThere is always that one person who is just looking to get you riled up. Theyll advance a crazy hypothesis and then defend it like the gospel. Or, theyll make inflammatory remarks about personal issues because they know its something you care a lot about. Dont take the bait. Simply put your headphones back in and get back to work. (Or, fine, dont get back to work- watch a YouTube video that you know always makes you laugh first.)8. Be AwareBefore delving into your points, take a moment to take stock of your audience. Are they willing? Or, are they just waiting for their food to finish heating up in the microwave? Sure, Laura mightve initially brought up a candidates statement from the night before, but th at doesnt mean she should be subjected to all your thoughts on the topic. Make sure youre having a conversation, not standing on a soap box. Off-topic workplace discussions are meant to relieve the pressure of your regular job. Dont let a discussion about politics threaten your sanity, your friendships, or worse, your career. Commit these rules to heart, and you should steer clear of any conversation disasters.