Today, At Work

How to behave today at work...

Obama has won. Whether we are comfortable with it or not, his win reaches deep down into the American psyche and gives it a twist.  This twist will be felt throughout the country and in every corner of our culture.  Bottom line... no matter what side of the aisle, most of us are rather stunned.

From now until forever our workplaces will be affected: most whites, even the most diversity-mature among us, will at the very least look at African Americans differently - I guarantee it.  Many African Americans will be looking at each other differently too.

So, tomorrow morning, if you're uncomfortable with this sea change, you're going to be tempted to hide your feelings; hunker down and get to work; this is understandable.  Others, who are happy with the result, will be talking excitedly and they may want to engage you.  You're best bet is to say something like this - "wow, big change! Absolutely big!" and leave it at that.  If the happy people want to engage you more, politely explain you've got to get something done and get on out of there since no one is going to enjoy any further discussion.

If you were an openly McCain supporter at work, you can say the same.  And try to find something complimentary to say about Obama, i.e. "he had a terrific ground game," or "I guess more people thought Obama was the best one to bring about change than McCain."  DO NOT denigrate the President elect, you will only hurt yourself and ostracize yourself at work as a sore loser.

Similarly, if you're an Obama supporter, do not gloat in front of or taunt any McCain supporters - its just bad form and it could permanently hurt your relationships with others.

The world is changing folks - that change is going to smack us in the face today at work; be careful, tread lightly.

Comments

[Lee Robin Kerkapoly]

America is finally growing up - embrace it, and watch yourself be changed. More understanding of differences - economical, social, religious, racial - will be the outcome - and how can that be bad?......remeber....'a more perfect union' - what could be better?

[Dave Caskey]

A huge day of irony. Civil rights vividly affirmed for blacks; civil rights criminally denied to gays and lesbians. I’m happy for O'Bama and the Democratic Party and the direction I believe they together will lead our country, but my heart is also heavy because of Prop 8's likely success in California and the same-sex marriage bans passed in Florida and Colorado. Separate-but-equal is not civil rights.