3 Keys to Leading Teams During a Time of Divisive Opinions and TensionIf you can find ways to balance the differences and unions within your teams, you can discover that a business can be a beautiful example of diversity and an antidote to the echo chambers we find online.

Gone are the days ofavoiding politicsand religion at the dinner table. Today, we often wear our opinions and beliefs on our sleeves, anddivisive views主导新闻。越来越多的员工vocalizing their support or dissent for various causes and issues and expecting their places of work to take a stand. With a major election occurring next year, and tensions sure to arise throughout the process, now is the time for you to invest in your company's cultural foundation so that no matter the circumstances, a team's cohesion and productivity aren't collateral damage of the election cycle.

This climate can be treacherous for business leaders trying tounite teamstoward productive goals. Employers who stay quiet or whose views land on an unpopular side of the debate risk sparking discord — in fact, 40% of workers would consider quitting their job if their leader took a stance they disagreed with, according to a recentCNBC|Momentive Workforce Survey. Oftentimes, though, quiet can be misconstrued as well, or worse, become a void filled by others' opinions that may not be in the best interest of the business.

We all want to experiencepsychological safetyin the workplace and have the opportunity for our opinions to be heard. If your employees trust that the organization and team have their back, they'll be more willing to collaborate and pull together. This begins by walking your talk — address your employees' concerns, lead "fireside" chats where your door is open to anyone from any level or send thoughtful and well-constructed emails that acknowledge the turmoil affecting your teams.