ByFrank OBrien
  • Best Option: Remain quiet until it’s resolved.

  • Worst Option (even for nonpolitical groups): Trying to get people to focus on anything else while we wait.

  • Special Case: If there are signs of election interference, push back hard if it’s within your mission.
  • Best Option: Let people enjoy the moment and look forward to better days ahead.       

  • Worst Option: Stealing peoples’ joy. There will be lots of time to remind people about difficult challenges and “lots of work still to do.”
  • Best Option: Validate but don’t replicate. You have to acknowledge how devastated people will be feeling. But remember they are looking to you for confidence and leadership, not just empathy.
  • Worst Option: Pretending it’s not as bad as it is.
  • Best Option: Placing the election’s outcome in the specific context of your mission.
  • Worst Option: Joining the chorus of generic “anyone could send this” post-election messages.

And, if you’re a nonpolitical group with no connection to the elections at all, remember this: Think in terms of counter-programming. After months of political messages in the news and on social media, people will be more than ready for optimistic, hopeful messages offering straightforward opportunities to make a positive impact in the world.

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