How to develop an organizational stance on political and social issues

Employees are increasingly demanding organizational leadership to take stances on political and social issues.

Emily Inverso, head of content and communications strategy at Axios HQ, said in the past leaders prioritized the ways their choices, voices and actions impacted their customers. But now, “we are seeing more and more the employees in the front seat. They are your most important audience.”

There are brands who are active and public about their stance on pressing issues. “If you are going to work there, you are going to know that, and you’re probably going to want to work in that space,” said Inverso.

But there are also organizations that focus more narrowly on the work they do and the factors that are going to impact daily operations. These brands recognize what’s going on in the world is going to impact employees as people. While they provide resources, these organizations refrain from discussing opinions on public policy.

Inverso said to ask yourself the following questions:

• Do the issues that are swirling around you impact your mission, vision or ability to operate?
• Do these topics intersect with or conflict with things you have expressed to your employees are important to you as an organization?
• What is the context and precedent that you’ve set around interacting with political and social issues?
• What is the context you are going to share in a modern moment as your team continues to grow and evolve so that they understand that expectation?

From both sides of the spectrum and in-between, Inverso recommends leaders:

• Ask yourself the difficult questions.
• Communicate and offer the context for your decision.
• Move forward following your model until you decide it’s time to change.
• Communicate again.

Watch the full conversation below: