The Elephant in the Org
The "Elephant in the Org" podcast is a daring dive into the unspoken challenges and opportunities in organizational development, particularly in the realm of employee experience. Hosted by the team at The Fearless PX, we tackle the "elephants" in the room—those taboo or ignored topics—that are critical for creating psychologically safe and highly effective workplaces.
The Elephant in the Org
Elephants, Elections, and Office Anxiety – Oh My!
Election season is upon us, and it’s not just your social media feed that’s feeling the heat—your workplace is, too. In this episode of *The Elephant in the Org*, hosts Danny Gluch, Marion Anderson, and Cacha Dora tackle the tension that creeps into offices during politically charged times. From navigating differing opinions at work to managing post-election anxieties, we explore how to maintain psychological safety when emotions run high.
Is it possible to keep things civil in the office when things get messy outside? Should organizations offer moderated spaces for political conversations, or are they just asking for trouble? And how do we support colleagues who might be struggling after the election without turning the workplace into a battlefield?
It’s a lively, thoughtful discussion on what happens when *the personal becomes professional*. Whether you’re managing a team, navigating political conversations, or just trying to survive the watercooler talk, this episode offers practical insights with a healthy dose of humor.
Tune in to hear our take on how to stay sane, civil, and connected at work—even when the world feels anything but.
**Referenced Articles and Books:**
- [Navigating Politics in the Workplace During a Divisive Election Year]
- [How to Guide Your Workplace Through the 2024 Election Season]
- [Navigating Pre- and Post-Election Tensions in the Workplace: Part I]
- [2024 Election Impact on the Workplace]
- [What Employers Need to Know About Employee Voting Leave]
Connect with Us:
- Follow The Fearless PX on Linkedin at The Fearless PX
- Visit our website for more content and updates: https://www.thefearlesspx.com/
- Reach out to Marion, Cacha, and Danny at elephant@thefearlessp.com
- You can find all episodes of The Elephant in the Org here.
We encourage you to subscribe and leave a review if you found this episode enlightening!
From April 2024, all new episodes of The Elephant In the Org will be posted bi-weekly.
Music Credits:
Opening and closing theme by The Toros.
Production Credits:
Produced by The Fearless PX, Edited by Marion Anderson.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are exclusively those of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect any affiliated organizations’ official policy or position.
S2 EP 3 - The Elephant in the Org Podcast Transcript
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Danny Gluch: Welcome back to The Elephant in the Org, everyone. I'm Danny Gluch, and I'm joined, as always, by my co-hosts, Cacha Dora.
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Cacha Dora: Hello!
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Danny Gluch: And Marion Anderson.
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Marion Anderson: Hi.
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Danny Gluch: And right around the corner, the big elephant is: the election is happening, and the elephant in the org is how we handle really tense political feelings, environments—tensions, tense tensions, that makes.
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Danny Gluch:
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Cacha Dora: Tense tension.
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Danny Gluch: Yeah.
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Marion Anderson: I think Cacha and I are.
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Danny Gluch: Yeah, we all feel it. And it’s—it’s the org. Yes, yeah. Right, childish dog lady.
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Danny Gluch: For everyone not on the video, Marion is pointing to her shirt that says 'childish dog lady' with an American flag.
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Danny Gluch: And Cacha.
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Marion Anderson: So there’s nothing more anarchist than that. So, you know, I think we’re—
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Marion Anderson: Facts, facts.
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Danny Gluch: Marion is being very American, and as far as I know, Billy Idol—not American—worn by—
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Cacha Dora: America.
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Danny Gluch: And Cacha.
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Cacha Dora: But also a Billy Idol devotee. So I think we're good.
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Danny Gluch: That makes sense. But seriously, ladies, like—
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Danny Gluch: The election's right around the corner.
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Danny Gluch: We have the highest tensions around an election that I can feel in a while. It’s been at least four years.
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Danny Gluch: And it feels like—
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Cacha Dora: In a lifetime, but four years.
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Danny Gluch: The last few elections have been really stressful.
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Danny Gluch: And how are we supposed to go into work and focus on projects, and work with coworkers—
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Danny Gluch: when some people are disagreeing with us? When maybe people are more apt during this time of year—this time of the election—to say a comment that might be disturbing, frustrating, or increasing tensions?
