During an emotional time, it’s important to turn to self-care practices – and for many people, the U.S. election campaign and the couple of weeks following it is one of those times. However you feel about the election results, you’ve probably spent weeks feeling anxious and overloaded. Whenever you’re experiencing strong negative emotions, it’s important to reflect on your thoughts and actions, prioritize your well-being, and incorporate self-care activities you find meaningful.
But as essential as it is to take care of yourself, it’s also important for us to take care of each other. In the days following November 5, I kept coming back to the feeling that I wanted to provide some form of support to our Change Coaches community. The election campaign, and the results themselves, show that we are living in a time where it’s difficult to not interact with people who have different views: politically, socially, and economically. We all have connections we value with people who think – and vote – differently than us, including in our professional contexts. How can we maintain these relationships while acknowledging our disagreements and keeping ourselves safe?
With that in mind, we launched a two-part community appreciation series designed to help our Change Coaches community navigate the unique challenges of today’s leadership landscape with confidence and empathy. Our first event, Leading Below the Surface – Navigating Election Tensions with Engagement, Equity, and Insights, was held online on Friday, November 15.
It was a great session! We shared how we were feeling after the election campaign and results, and leading into the political season to come. I shared some strategies to handle conversations that might feel difficult, as well as tips on how to know if you’re ready to have those conversations at all. And we shared experiences and answered questions on the challenges we’re all currently facing in our organizations and personal relationships. The resounding point: YOU come first. It’s imperative to take care of ourselves first.
Choosing the Right Communication Strategy
Not every form of communication fits every situation or desired outcome. During our session, I outlined three different communication strategies – debate, discussion, and dialogue – and shared some information about how each type works according to the Sustained Dialogue Institute, where LaTonya just completed a 10-week sustained dialogue training.
1. Debate
Debate comes from a place of opposition: I’m on one side, you’re on the other, and each of us is trying to convince the other that our view is the correct one. This approach has its place but openness to another person’s opinion or experience is hard to have when you’re attempting to ‘win’ a conversation. If that kind of interaction isn’t what you feel ready for, or runs counter to your goals, it’s okay to hold that boundary for yourself.
2. Discussion
Discussion is an important part of forming a community, as it tends to start with an assumption of an equal playing field. However, that runs counter to reality most of the time, which means discussion can be a way to hear different perspectives but isn’t necessarily the path to finding common ground.
3. Dialogue
A dialogue is a collaborative conversation, one where all participants work together toward a common understanding through relating their personal experiences. In a dialogue, differences are a feature, not a bug – the reflections you receive on those differences from others in the conversation are part of the value of engaging in dialogue in the first place.
None of these strategies are right or wrong – it all depends on the context you’re in and the outcome you want. Check in with yourself about your communication patterns over the next few weeks, and reflect on how they make you feel and if they’re meeting your needs.
Moving Forward
In the months ahead, it will be important to prioritize self-care, effective communication, and efforts to understand different perspectives. Reach out to your communities for support and advice. At Change Coaches, we plan to continue being one of those communities and we look forward to fostering those connections over the next month and into the new year.
In support of that plan, we hope you’ll join our second session of this series, Leading Below the Surface – Adjusting Your Leadership for 2025 and Beyond. Registration for this free online event is now open – sign up online today and join us on December 6, when we’ll dive into long-term strategies for sustaining trust, engagement, and psychological safety in your organization as we move into 2025.