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Author of ‘The Underdog Edge’, Amy Showalter, explains the importance of empowering your employees with healthy political discussions
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Welcome back everybody I'm -- -- level we do it all the time it's our job to talk about politics at work which can you be doing it in your office.
And corporate campaign advisor and CEO.
Miss Amy Showalter is here hi Amy thanks for having me I am well video that you know you're taught from day one -- and he can comprehend any sort of things ways -- approach shots social graces since they don't talk about religion or politics at work you're saying no talk about politics at work might be good for that.
For business absolutely it's very good for business because what it does is it.
Helps employees understand the mechanisms of how that business works if we don't talk about the legislative issues and political issues that impact that company.
How do we know.
The other external forces that impact the company because that's an external environment the companies have to manage is that political -- so -- explain what you're telling me.
This community really understand where you're glad I'm telling you is that companies that's educate employees about the issues that impact that company.
And then empower them on how to impact those issues and have a good healthy focused is the keyword focused and directed dialogue on those issues.
Have employee issues like what Princeton issues like what goes on your menu at the restaurants in menu labeling issues like access to different markets access to.
Abilities for companies did you grow and to thrive in just different legislative regulatory issues that are out there could inside with.
In the gay issues inside that within the company -- our company issued I can't I -- -- -- kind of thing you're saying it.
I don't -- what I -- -- -- I immediately assume that you're saying no go to the lunch room mr.
Clinton about.
If you're running in her fight about President Obama again.
This fight -- -- -- -- that that's happened occasionally these programs that we final for the companies that with the best make sure that they.
Tell the employees had -- issues that impact us as a company and legislators have views on those issues.
And we want to let you know their views on those issues you make your decision Iraq's -- how to vote.
Who to vote for that's -- there's there's -- -- executives have a fear.
And employees have a fear that other companies can tell me how to venture good companies and do that but they do you put the facts out there both sides of the issue and have a good healthy dialogue.
On those issues.
It basically I get -- here saying -- here I'm the CEO of the company.
Hear hear the goals of our company -- the mission of our company and here -- some legislation that some legislation that's either in place are pending.
That included a benefit our company wants to go against the grain of what we're doing.
To say no no absolutely Italian I was really wish -- -- fire up your employees.
Fire him up well and we -- employees really need to focus on and companies to get them plays excellent have a common.
Vs their differences and one of the ways you can do that is through educating them on these issues going on in congress in the state legislatures because.
In any economy and especially in today's economy.
What's good for that company in their ability to grow and thrive and get rid of some onerous regulations is good -- that employee and their family and get the shareholders.
So we want to make sure that's in -- are aware of that and what I find the company's -- really well -- a morale -- yeah because of the employees realize we're in this together right -- are groups out there that oppose us.
But we're in this together for our for our careers our paychecks and that's gonna think that we you do -- and -- help these corporations make the workplace and more democratic up process.
As opposed to this hierarchy that we're the boss worker -- this information and that's that in your worker and you -- do -- do what I say.
And it taught that yeah I'm glad you brought that up because we find out again that.
The best.
Examples of this -- companies have very branded kind of formal programs for employees might sit on -- board of directors.
And comment on legislation and comment on political contributions that happens as well that's very healthy yes I -- that's the Wednesday I think.
Getting to -- for obvious reasons -- -- -- beer and yeah.
You stated.
Stay away from hot button issues so to be talking about Atlanta I think they go in there and again -- -- happened yesterday what happened the hot buttons are generally of social issues.
You hear gun control.
-- abortion rights those kinds of things and I have seen.
Organizations that have a real culture political engagement on their issues sometimes employees get overzealous and veer into those.
Topics that you -- to bring him back and remind them that we're here under the auspices of the XYZ company were all members of the party XYZ not Republican Party enough Democratic Party or pro choice pro life that kind of thing -- -- -- -- thing right.
And in keeping them focused but also understanding -- which scene seems like bright ovals but not really -- we -- -- -- right -- that's a pretty broad spectrum of what they can talk about.
And as to how it affects the the company directly or indirectly.
Yes and we -- -- of the these programs are good for helping the employees understand how government works the best programs teach them.
Here's how bills become law here's how you make your voice heard and here's how you influence and persuade not just how you educate the lawmakers of their own empowering and equipping them.
To get involved and I've had many organizations tell me.
What we -- on this issue.
Now we can use it on these other issues and my employees are using it in municipal issues and other things concerned of their families so -- equipping them in and giving them some skills to have you.
-- really really tough situations challenges -- women and morale was just horrible at a company because the employees telling they were -- -- blocked from any sort of process and decision making process in that particular company yes.
And it certainly haven't not asking which it has named the company reports that is sort of expound on that particular you out an area that thank you what.
What happens generally is where employees feel -- they don't have a voice when an executive usually takes control perhaps at their political action committee that happens occasionally.
You see that sometimes and the executives and not rank and file employees it's not democratized as we say sometimes there can be a perception there are real or imagined.
That's the senior executives control these decisions control what things are.
Examined and so forth and the legislative arena and they should have a bed -- big say in that.
But there's also people in the trenches do you know researchers are indeed people and so forth that are affected by legislation.
And they can have great input on.
The impact to the company because there on the ground dealing with -- so -- sometimes and -- does arise because of too much senior management.
Control the.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Yeah a lot that's I love that I tried it ends -- present.
Maybe it's true though you you you get the idea is kind of what you're talking about what you do when you go in there in and tried it sort of you read some of those lines of demarcation.
And -- the the executive can come out of his his you know.
Fancy office or her fancy office -- -- -- mingle with the employees and -- the real issue is the real struggles are.
Suddenly everybody can work together for common -- to have a better company than.
And they need to be reminded of this executives and the rank and file that I think.
What happens is that corporations and rightly so they focus on some programs and size differences because of inclusion I -- that I understand that that's good however sometimes attends a separate people.
And we want to remind everybody needs but we have differences so we respect but we're also.
Members of the XYZ party -- company party as well I agree are a very good step any finer point point two -- -- -- I think -- thing I would say just -- a good thing for companies did actually builds esprit de corps and builds morale and builds a sense of unity among employees I don't have your website -- -- -- -- group dot com.
No -- SH OW a LT he art show Walter group dot com I think gonna hire you now.
You didn't get a good job explaining to me what was happening and other very scenarios that you faced with okay Amy show thanks.
