What Election Outcomes Mean for Communicators

Now that we know the outcome of the 2020 U.S. presidential election, it is time for communicators to begin to strategize around the anticipated impact a Biden presidency will have on the future. 

In the period after the election, before a winner was announced, Alex Wirth, co-founder and CEO of Quorum, hosted a Page Conversation about the implications of this pivotal election. Here are some key takeaways: 

1. We have a diverse and polarized country. Election results have shown that we all need to come out of our bubbles of experience and confirmation bias. How can communicators help break those? Culture can be the connector in a polarized workplace. Communications should lead this effort by providing the framework. 
2. The center needs to matter again. Companies and organizations are trusted voices on both the national stage and in their stakeholders’ lives. They have the unique opportunity to change the focus. Comms should play a role in enabling that civic dialogue, deliberately shifting away from polarized groups to have people meet in the center. 
3. Think macro and micro messaging. Have an inclusive macro message that reinforces your company's values. Then, use micro messages to personalize and contextualize that message to communicate with employees who are inside their own micro-climates of information, always keeping in mind their perspectives.

Thanks to Evan Kraus, APCO Worldwide; Gloria Dittus, Story Partners; and Erin Streeter, National Association of Manufacturers for contributing to the discussion among the many guests.