Leadership Under Fire

“We will fight back” was the first thing I saw in the news, after reading that Donald Trump won the US presidential election.

Although I live in the Washington, DC area, I am not a politician, policy wonk or lobbyist. My work guides people and teams to become the leaders they want to be. So why did that statement jump out at me? Because leaders don’t fight back like that. Leaders listen, show empathy and help others grow through dialogue.

Although Clinton lost, she won the popular vote, which means we have a nation torn apart while there are so many issues to face, such as global warming, women’s rights and the economy. So we must work together to bridge the gap and bring the country back together.

So what can you do to show leadership during this transition time?

1. Show empathy

People have contributed hundreds and thousands of hours campaigning for a female candidate they believed in. Students took semesters off and business people took leave of absences to campaign door to door. Today their dreams were shattered. Put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself what it’s like to invest so much passion into an idea that didn’t come to fruition. If you supported Trump and are tempted to say, “We won. Move on,” I encourage you to show empathy and say, “This must be a tough day for you.” And if you supported Clinton, I encourage you to say, “Thanks for your service and dedication” instead of, “Come on. Let’s fight back.”

2. Listen

There’s an expression that says, “People need to complain before they create”. I don’t mean that you’re going to become a therapist and let people monopolize your whole day with their emotions. However, I am saying that you need to take time to listen to people as they deal with their emotions during this transition.

It would be easy to dismiss someone’s feelings with, “Guess you voted for the wrong person.” Instead, truly listen without an agenda. Show open body language, make eye contact and nod your head to show that you’re listening. This will create a bond, which will help us all as we move past our biases and build a stronger country.

3. Ask Questions

If we are going to bridge the red and the blue states, we must understand each other’s perspectives. That comes from asking questions of those around you. So even if you voted for another candidate, ask a colleague or neighbor what they think is possible with the new candidates and how each citizen can make this a strong country. By asking questions and starting a dialogue, we can leverage our commonalities instead of letting our differences divide us even more.

Let’s be clear. If you want change, you do need to fight for it. However, fighting with violence and offensive language won’t help this country heal. Show your leadership and fight with empathy and communication.