.png)
By Victor Wachira
The 2017 general elections has thrown every Kenyan into a turmoil and everyone has suddenly turned into a political analyst or even a lawyer.
Every corner you visit, everyone is talking about politics from hotels, church sermons and definitely at work places.
It starts with a simple statement like, ‘uliona news jana’?,and before you know it things get out of hands and people start taking sides and a rift ensures in the workplace.
Discussing politics at the office can be somewhat tricky: You want to speak openly about politics but you don’t want to assume others share your view, or worse, to offend someone.
The workplace is one of those places where you don’t have a whole lot of control over who you interact with; chances are your co-workers are not being selected on the basis of whether or not they agree with you politically.
A Must Read >>>>Top 10 Best Paying Careers In Kenya Today
Reasons to Stay Away From Politics
1. Politics is your private business, that is why we practice a secret ballot voting system.
It’s not a bad idea to shroud your political opinions the same way while in the office.
Think of your political affiliations the same way you should your love life—as a personal matter, not a professional one.
2. It affects productivity.
Too much chatter about any subject could dampen productivity, especially if the subject is politics. The topics discussed at work need to increase productivity or nurture relationships.
The problem with talking politics at work is that people don’t just express their opinion. They try to bring people over to their point of view.
3. It creates bias.
You might start to make assumptions and harbor resentment for co-workers if you know too much about their political leanings, and this could lead to a less-than-harmonious working relationship.
People who previously worked very well together may all of a sudden feel quite differently about their teammates.
4.It makes workers feel isolated or bullied.
Being the only NASA in a room of jubilee and vice versa should not be awkward, as long as you steer clear of politics.
Too much partisan talk can be a slippery slope, particularly since opinions on some political platforms could bring intolerance. Voicing a strong opinion one way or another could lead to employees feeling discriminated against.
Read Also >>>> 5 Ways To Get A Promotion Without Actually Asking For It
However if you have to engage in political debates or as we Kenyans love to call them `bunge la wananchi’ you must always consider the following factors to ensure that politics do not create a division between you and fellow workmates whom you do not agree with politically
1. Don’t assume every co-worker will agree with your opinions.
2. Approach the conversations with an open mind and curiosity for understanding others’ views, rather than wanting to prove a point.
3. Look for shared values that allow you to explore these political questions together.
4. Be comfortable with differences in opinion. No individual conversation about politics right now is likely to change anyone’s mind, so approach any interaction at work about politics with that awareness.
it is advisable to refrain from politics as much as possible during this period,keep opinions to yourself and let politicians do their politics business themselves.
No comments:
Post a Comment