Crucial Conversations: ASAE Webinar to Focus on Civil Discourse in Contentious Times

Taking a public position on social and political issues can come with a cost for employers, including government agencies.

Whatever an employer’s stance, it’s bound to sit wrong with at least some employees, customers and other stakeholders, some of whom might opt to do less business with the organization, if not sever ties completely.

We find ourselves in an especially contentious political climate at the moment, of course. As such, individual employees might be hesitant to broach such subjects in the workplace as well. Political discussions were at one time largely off-limits around the office, but that’s no longer the case. A late 2023 Glassdoor survey, for example, found more than 60% of U.S.-based employees saying they had discussed politics with colleagues in the past 12 months.

Of course, conversations of this nature have been known to take some awkward and downright unpleasant turns, and can ultimately fray relationships around the office and within the organization.

At an April 17 webinar hosted by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), PSHRA CEO Cara Woodson-Welch will be part of a panel of experts on hand to discuss how to foster a work environment that welcomes different perspectives and beliefs, and helps employees feel comfortable with making their voices heard.

“Associations are having to debate whether they should weigh in on an increasing number of complex issues when many stakeholders may hold divergent beliefs,” according to an ASAE statement. “This is happening in an era of increased polarization and decreased civil discourse. How do leaders underscore the importance of civility and effectively facilitate critical conversations?”

Woodson-Welch will join Kristi Donovan, practice director with McKinley Advisors, and Dr. Lynn M. Gangone, president and CEO of Colleges for Teacher Education, to shed light on how their organizations approach that question. The session will include an exploration of research that ASAE’s Association Insights Center has conducted on managing divergent beliefs in the workplace.

The panel also plans to share insight into how they create safe spaces for constructive dialogue among their employees, the role of civil discourse in work, the importance of facilitating fact-based conversations, managing divergent beliefs, effectively engaging their boards, and correcting course “when things don’t go as expected,” according to ASAE.

“As the first woman and first person of color to lead PSHRA, a 118-year-old organization, it is critical to me to create an environment that is open and inclusive,” Woodson-Welch said. “Using a framework helps to ensure that crucial dialogue occurs, and that the organization continues to represent its mission and values.”