Mexico had some heated elections a few days ago, and now you’re probably seeing some long faces, some happy ones, and other confused ones all across the globe.“There are more than 50 elections affecting half the planet’s population planned for this year. From Taiwan to Russia to India and more, the presidential and legislative contests have huge implications for human rights, the economy, international relations.” Some of these are: the European Union this week, Britain on July 4th, Venezuela on July 28th, and the United States of America in November, to name a few.
Some of you might already be having a hard time trying to understand the new office culture, your new job, or your new boss. Now you have politics at the top of all this to deal with as well. Even if you and your coworkers have lived through the election cycle before, it’s never the same experience. To help your team navigate through these tough times, I’ve decided to bring together some of the lessons we’ve learned from previous posts to prepare ourselves to face the unknown.
As leaders, we must have a better sense of what our staff needs emotionally and materially to cope in crisis. There are policies, systems, and expectations that might need to be adjusted. As in all times of transition, overall communication needs to be reviewed and tweaked.
With that in mind, I’ve compiled some tips for managers and leaders to help their teams through the season of elections. Even if your work isn’t directly related to electoral work or politics in general, your collaborators will likely participate in the elections either by voting or being vocal about their beliefs.
The (unexpected) longevity of elections
So when we say “Election time,” are we referring to the day these take place, the day after, or, in case of contested results, a week later? As we count the ballots, some team players may seem upset or distracted. Even mass mobilizations can occur and affect local traffic, setting bad moods, lessening productivity, and shortening working hours. Whether it’s the leadership team or your own team, or as an individual leader, we must ask ourselves: what can we do to set our team up for success in the coming days, weeks, or even months after elections?
Prepare for any possible outcomes and prepare for the potential impacts on your organization, your team, and even your community. After election day, be ready to help your organization navigate and make decisions as needed.
Connect and communicate immediately after the elections
After the electons, as leaders we should respond immediately, setting the tone for moving forward.
- Observe how your team is showing up to work the days after election day. Remember how I have talked about how each culture deals with uncertainty? There might be tension and some unrest due to the election outcome. Everyone is feeling the impact and magnitude of the results in their own way. Some can throw themselves into their work and others show to be more distracted, feeling overwhelmed, or plainly seem absent.
- Openly acknowledge what has happened. Open some space for your team to express their various feelings and reactions.
- Equally important, ground your team in its sense of purpose. Equip them to be there for their colleagues, teammates, community, and family. With so much going on, it’s critical to drill down on your team’s purpose and focus on its priorities. This might mean some activities need to be put on the back burner. Should the performance evaluations be put off? Maybe the Home Office / On-Site ratio decisions? Ask yourselves as leaders, does this or that need to be accomplished in the next few weeks?
- Carefully handle internal communication with your team about the company’s and team’s purpose, plans, and policies.
- This is where your listening skills must be taken to a whole new level. Hear how they are doing and inject support. Above all be empathetic, a leadership trait I will discuss in a couple of weeks.
Intercultural dimensions in the Mexican society
- As I mentioned in a post on Emotions: the best global language, Latin American cultures wear emotions on their sleeves. Showing genuine sadness or even tears and affectionate expressions of support are all part of daily life. I’m sure you have seen the “Me dueles, Mexico” meme (translated to “You hurt me, Mexico,”) where grief is shared openly. I’ll just put this quote from Historian Javier Moscoso without getting too much into the subject: “The greatest pain is the absence of hope.”
- Mexico shows a relatively high Uncertainty Avoidance. “They value stability, tradition, predictability, and clear rules and guidelines, reflected in business, social interactions, and governance. Their strong emphasis on hierarchical structures and respect for authority figures help provide a sense of security and stability in uncertain situations. They believe in adaptability and resilience in the face of adversity. While they may prefer stability, they are also resourceful and adept … and their sense of community and mutual support” will definitely make them step up when times get tough.
- As for the Masculinity Dimension, “Mexico scores high on Hofstede’s Scale, exhibiting a heavy-handed leadership style driven by competition and achievement, fostering a decisive society where conflict resolution often entails confrontation. This culture prioritizes work, expecting assertive managers. Understanding this offers more insight into the societal dynamics of politics, power, and governance.”
- Surely Mexico’s positive side will show up when pushing for a preferred candidate or celebrating their win. This highly indulgent culture is characterized by how they spend time and money on leisure and friendship. Taken from my post on Indulgence or Restraint, this culture is about having control over one’s life and free self-expression. There is a high need to feel and be happy. Smiling, embraced as a norm, contributes to an overall positive atmosphere.
Conclusion
I have dedicated a good part of this article to the Mexican intercultural Dimensions and their impact on this election period, as Mexico is dear to my heart. Nevertheless, seeing the upcoming elections in Europe and all over the globe, I invite my friends, clients, and colleagues to further review the European Intercultural Dimensions mentioned in my previous articles. This will allow you to understand a bit more of the expected reactions to the election process and its results, as well as, the relationship between culture and political and social tendencies.
Lastly, as an Intercultural Executive Coach, my intention is to remind Global Leaders of their leadership role in these political and social times and give their people the space to reflect on the outcomes, take new steps, and adjust plans based on what works towards their goals. Make the most of this unique situation.
