Leaders and organizations who speak out publicly on political and social issues soon learn the controversy they most need to address is about themselves. They become lightning rods for those on both sides of the issue. One group thinks the leader needs to do even more. The other group feels their competing views go unsupported for no good reason.
When leaders take a stance and attempt to do the “right” thing about issues unconnected to the core mission of the organization, everyone loses —especially the leader.The idea of commenting on political and socially controversial issues typically begins with pressure from those inside and outside the organization who are extremely vocal about one side.
The outrage they express on social media normally finds its way to leaders who speak for a company or organization. Not surprisingly, many leaders feel compelled to bow to this influence and often decide that the best course of action is to weigh in publicly on what they deem is the right answer to the injustice others perceive.
So, they take a stand and then make blanket statements that represent the official and approved view of the organization. In the process, they completely alienate those who hold competing views, of which there are many, sometimes even outsizing the vocal minority. The backlash can be severe, with team members and customers feeling disenfranchised by leaders who have clearly taken a side.
After making their stand, leaders soon learn that neither side likes what they have to say. Those in agreement may demand an even stronger stance and message for the ideology they support.
Those in opposition find it uncomfortable to speak up and engage colleagues who may believe that only malcontents could hold a competing view. This chilling effect on openness undermines the collaborative spirit between team members that all organizations need to perform. Even when leaders attempt to thread the needle by expressing some support for both sides of a contentious issue, they are typically viewed as disrespectful and biased. Leaders soon learn a painful lesson.
Speaking out on social, political, and ideological issues is a lose-lose proposition. Once they take a stance and make a public statement, everyone is offended in one way or another. So, what is truly the best course of action? The best leaders refrain from taking any position or making any statement that doesn’t directly connect to its core mission.
They need to keep everyone focused on the work at hand so the organization can provide career opportunities and financial security. Promoting the well-being of all team members supersedes everything else. As much as key stakeholders might want them to speak out, good leaders focus inward and not outward. No leadership team can or should speak for the entire audience of customers, team members, and investors.
Weighing in on socially controversial issues undermines the ability to build a strong and cohesive team. People in organizations always share more in common than they have differences that divide them. The best leaders remember that and emphasize messages that bring people together. The ability to fulfill the mission of the organization must always matter most.
A Daily Dispatch from the Front Lines of Leadership.
