We don’t yet know the results of the 2020 election, but we may by the time this article is published. The months of polarizing news, commentary, and ads will hopefully start to recede although the effects will ripple far into the future.
This year, along with testing our patience and persistence with our businesses, has tested our personal relationships. Close friends who have always had opposing perspectives may have let those differences boil up so intensely that their relationships gradually melted away. Once-friendly neighbors may now look down at one another with suspicion or contempt.
How does your travel businesses operate in this divisive climate?
This isn’t about figuring out whether you, as a small business, should be publicizing your political opinions. That is a personal decision that you may or may not be comfortable with.
The community of small business owners in the travel industry can demonstrate their professionalism and their leadership during this time by taking a step back. It may seem hard to believe right now, a week away from the election, but there is more to people than their political leanings. Is it important? Yes. But somewhere in the midst of this long year, we’ve forgotten how productive and rewarding finding the common ground can be, personally and professionally.
Regardless of the outcome, there will be those feeling frustrated and anxious. There may be uncertainty at how the election results impact the economy, jobs, and future travel plans. Keep in mind, these are bi-partisan reactions.
You can choose to be understanding of these concerns, rather than defensive. You can choose to show compassion and positivity, rather than condescension. Even if you disagree, there’s power and humanity in acknowledging it, and moving on. Being in the world of travel means you have an infinite number of topics and shared dreams you can use to engage your community.
It takes leadership to remind people that we are all, in fact, people. We tend to respond to hostility with hostility, which is why I love this quote from Nelson Mandela: “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
In a world where everything feels stressful and politically charged, you can be a source of light and even love to those around you.
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