How to Talk Politics with Friends

TIPS for TALKING POLITICS

with FRIENDS
Look for areas of agreement. Let the
other person know you share common goals,
even if your preferred tactics for achieving
them differ.
Avoid personal attacks. While you dont
have to agree with the other persons view,
you can still acknowledge that his or her
view is valid, rather than idiotic or evil.
Focus on facts and be tentative. Consider
the source of your facts, and ask the other
person to do the same. Ask two questions:
Could the facts be biased? Could they be
interpreted differently?
Look for signs of disagreement. If the
other person grows quiet or starts to become
defensive, reinforce your respect and
remind him or her of the broader purpose
you both share.

V I TA L S M A R T S R E S E A R C H

62% of Americans have found

themselves in heated debates and the victims of
verbal attacks when discussing politicswith their friends.
According to our research,

And according to the study of 564 people, the collateral damage of a political discussion
gone wrong is substantial. Three out of five say theyve had a political conversation damage
a relationship with a friend, family
member, or coworker, and 14% say
KEY RESULTS
the relationship never truly recovered.
The study found only 15% of
respondents believe they can express
their full political views to others
without getting upset. So, rather than
risk an emotional verbal battle, 86%
avoid political discussions and one
in 10 report they stay away from
political banter at all costs.
What people dont realize is its
possible to be 100% candid
and 100% respectful in crucial
conversationseven political
discussions.

62%

have had heated

debates on politics

3 in 5

say a political
conversation has damaged their relationships

15%

Only
believe they can
engage in political discussions without
getting upset

86%

avoid political discussions

ABOUT THE RESEARCH. The study

collected responses via an online survey of 564
individuals in May and June 2012. Margin of
error is approximately 3%.

LEARN NEW SKILLS. To learn how Crucial

Conversations Training can help you effectively
discuss heated topics, visit www.vitalsmarts.com or
call 1.800.449.5989.

About VitalSmartsAn innovator in corporate training and leadership development, VitalSmarts

combines three decades of original research with 50 years of the best social science to help leaders
and organizations change human behavior and achieve new levels of performance. VitalSmarts has
identified four high-leverage skill sets that, when used in combination, create healthy corporate
cultures. These skills are taught in the Companys award-winning training programs and New York
Times bestselling books of the same titles: Crucial Conversations, Crucial Accountability, Influencer,
and Change Anything. VitalSmarts has consulted with more than 300 of the Fortune 500 companies and
trained more than one million people worldwide. www.vitalsmarts.com