Today’s Tip Support Your Distracted Team As a manager, staying adaptable and thoughtful is key during emotionally charged times—and election day in the U.S. is one of them. Here’s a quick guide to leading with empathy when your team is (understandably) distracted by the news. Pause before reacting. Resist “anxious fixing.” When stress rises, it’s tempting to micromanage to gain a sense of control over the situation, but this only adds pressure. Instead, give your team some breathing room. Offer transparent updates. Even if there’s no new information, keep communication open. To get ahead of unnecessary anxiety spirals, be as transparent as possible, even if that means just letting your team know that you don’t have anything new to share. Define clear priorities. A well-defined path forward for what to focus on prevents team members from drifting into low-priority work and confusion. Stay informed. Check the news each morning so you’re aware of what might be impacting your team’s focus and mental state. Acknowledge distractions and offer people one-on-one support when they need it. Adjust expectations. Recognize—and plan for—the likelihood that this week will bring dips in productivity. This tip is adapted from “How to Manage a Distracted Team,” by Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy.