Why you should talk to your team after Election Day

As a leader, you may want to avoid the topic of elections entirely, but recognizing the emotional atmosphere on your team and the mood of the country is important, Knight writes.

"Name the elephant in the room," said Wendy Smith, a professor at the University of Delaware's Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics. "And acknowledge the emotional complexity and intensity of the moment."

After a contentious election, "people want to feel heard," said Paul Argenti, a professor of corporate communication at Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business. As your team's leader, it's your job to make sure that happens in a positive, productive way.

According to Dorie Clark, who teaches at Columbia University School of Business, you should keep your comments brief, respectful, and focused.

"There will almost certainly be people who are upset no matter the outcome, but you can't allow that to derail the work you're doing or spill over and affect other employees," she said. "Your goal as a leader is to find a balance between recognizing that people have feelings about the election results, and remembering that the collective reason we're all there is to get our jobs done."

How to talk to your team after Election Day

Be careful and deliberate with your words

Setting the right tone is very important. "Your role as a leader is to ensure that everyone feels comfortable coming to work," Argenti said.

Acknowledge what happened tactfully, adjusting your message to the outcome whether it's a decisive result or there will be a period of uncertainty with recounts and other disputes.

If there's a clear winner, Clark recommends saying something like: "Good morning, everyone. I imagine many of you stayed up late last night, and we all likely have personal feelings about the results of the election. Some of you may feel pleased, while others might be very upset. I want to emphasize that one of our core values as an organization is to be thoughtful and respectful toward one another. Let's all be mindful of how we express our feelings, recognizing the diversity within our team. Regardless of how we each feel about politics, there's one thing we can all agree on: our commitment to creating a supportive and respectful work environment for our colleagues, as well as delivering excellent products and services for our customers."

However, if the outcome is unclear and there's likely to be a long period of uncertainty, Clark recommends acknowledging the tension and confusion before pivoting to your business needs, saying something like: "It's stressful for all of us that there's no clarity about the election results. No matter how it ultimately turns out, having a definitive outcome would provide some comfort, allowing us to strategize and paint a picture of what the next four years might look like. For now, though, we find ourselves in a state of uncertainty, which can be uncomfortable. While we all want certainty, it's important to set those feelings aside for the moment so we can be there for our colleagues and customers."

Be patient

The time following the election is going to be difficult for everyone, so be patient, both with your team and with yourself, Smith said.

Smith recommends thinking about your leadership as being "on the balcony," a term coined by Ronald Heifetz and Martin Linsky from the Harvard Kennedy School, meaning looking at the bigger picture instead of being swept up in raw feelings.

"This is a moment that calls for compassion," Smith said. Your team members might be upset, distracted, and preoccupied, but "you yourself have to be on the balcony" during a time like this. That means keeping your head clear and staying above the emotional fray, Knight writes. You don't have to be emotionally detached, but you need to be able to have perspective and see beyond the immediate situation.

Smith recommends leaning on your community outside of work to process your emotions and navigate your own feelings about the election. This allows you to keep those feelings separate from your professional life.

Research has found that the more we attempt to reject, resist, or conceal our difficult feelings, the more likely those feelings will emerge in an unexpected and potentially disruptive way. "The challenge is not to avoid your emotions, but to not let them hijack your leadership," Smith said.

Despite the fact that the political landscape may feel chaotic and overwhelming, you should strive to maintain a sense of steadiness, Knight writes. Argenti recommends informing your team members they can come to you with any concerns related to the work environment, economy, or the organization, and that you should be open and available for those who need support.

For example, if people are worried about how the new president will impact your industry, you could remind them that economic fluctuations occur under either administration and emphasize your organization's resilience by saying "We've faced challenges before, and we will adapt to whatever changes come our way."

"I don't want to downplay the strong emotions on both sides," Argenti said. "But in the end, life will go on. We'll get through this." (Knight, Harvard Business Review, 11/4)

In the face of constant change and limited resources, healthcare leaders need to keep their teams motivated and engaged. Explore three powerful leadership moves that can help boost team spirit and productivity, ensuring your team thrives even in uncertain times.