Managing People: How Politicians Are Making Managers' Jobs Really Hard

Politicians in Canada and the United States are creating traumatized
employees. This, in turn, makes managers' jobs much more difficult
because people spend time at work talking about the ridiculously bad
behaviours of politicians.One of the other impacts around election
time is an increase in depression, cynicism and an opting out
mentality in some employees.The media aggravates a sense of
powerlessness. This is ramped up with the negative, personal attacks
seen in the ad campaigns.There is a syndrome called Adverse Childhood
Experiences (ACE) in which adults, who were treated badly as children,
exhibit self-destructive behaviours particularly when confronted with
stressful situations over extended periods of time.The current
political climate in North America in which politicians are viciously
and personally attacking each other, telling lies about their
opponents and often just making stories up that are not true can
trigger significant negative emotional experiences in employees
suffering from ACE. Then managers have to deal with behaviours that
they have little training for and don't understand the origin of.The
context for these challenges then shifts into what I call Adverse
Adult Emotional Experiences or - AAEE! You get the picture?So what's a
manager to do?1. Do not, I repeat, do not enter into any political
discussions in the workplace. They can go off the rails faster than a
speeding bullet.2. If an employee is complaining, or voicing, her/his
discontent with all the political haranguing going on, be sympathetic
to her/his plight.3. Have three times per week work-focusing sessions
in which you review the goals of the team, and ask:"What's going
well?";
"What can we improve on?"
And, "What do we need to look out for?"These regular check-ins will
help people to focus on the work to be done as well as connecting
people to each other.One of the fallouts of AAEE! in this political
climate is that people can feel very alienated from each other. A
manager can really help employees get through these turbulent times by
focusing a goals that make sense and will provides rewards.One of the
other negative consequences from the political maelstrom is that
customers can become more belligerent as they feel the slings and
arrows of outrageous behaviours.Customer service then becomes more
challenging as employees are yelled at or in other ways treated with
disrespect.4. Some short term-team building activities -- about 2-3
hours long -- can help relieve the day-to-day pressures of dealing
with difficult customers.A little time away from the rough and tumble
of the work setting allows people to think differently and hopefully
do some attitude readjustments. Done well, a periodic team building
experience will facilitate people getting reconnected. The cynicism
and negativity can, for a time, be dissipated.Do not expect these
short teaming activities to solve any major business or team
issues.The intention is to fill the tank, not replace the engine.The
short-term objectives are to:Recover a bit of trust and respect
between people.
Teach the importance of communicating clearly and constructively.
Show groups some fun, creative problem-solving to counter-act a
climate of mal-intent and politicians behaving badly.A little bit of
connecting can go a long way to relieving the pain and anxiety of
AAEE!