5 Things / Managing Distrust
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After the US election, there's a chance that some people on your team have wondered to themselves this week, “Am I going to be OK? Is my teammate or manager someone who voted against equality?” There are likely people on your team who feel psychologically unsafe and don’t trust leadership.
How do we handle that? That’s the theme for this week’s 5 Things in 15 Minutes show on LinkedIn or YouTube Live on Monday at 1 pm ET with my guest Dr. Marla Corson, Ph.D., CSP. She’s an expert on safety who previously worked at Amazon, Nestle, and others.
I’ve been working my way through the stages of grief as I process this week’s results. I come back to the lesson I learned from my therapist many years ago, “You can't control or change other people; you can only manage yourself and how you react.”
I'm managing my own feelings and I’m here to hold space with others. But I also have a strong sense of curiosity. Clearly, I’m missing something if I'm that out of touch with the values of half of our country. But I want to understand, so I will choose to lead with kind curiosity and love.
If you need a speaker who can help your team find common ground, respond. I’m your person. The world needs us to come together.
Here Are This Week's Good Vibes: This Week’s Good Vibes Are All Election Firsts
Double the Power with Rochester and Alsobrooks
For the first time, two Black women—Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland—will serve simultaneously in the US Senate. Blunt Rochester, already Delaware’s at-large representative, makes history as the state’s first Black senator. Similarly, Alsobrooks, a former Prince George’s County executive, is Maryland’s first Black woman senator. Together, they bring the total number of Black senators to five, a historic high.
McBride Shatters Glass Ceilings in Congress
Sarah McBride’s election to Congress marks a historic breakthrough as the first openly transgender person in this role. Her journey from student leader to a national figure shows her resilience and commitment to being a visible advocate. McBride’s life story, from coming out at American University to her role as a former White House intern, has made her a role model for others seeking to live authentically. For her supporters, McBride’s success affirms the power of representation and the impact of diverse voices in shaping a more inclusive future.
Emily Randall’s Triple Firsts
Emily Randall became the first openly LGBTQ+ person to represent Washington State in Congress and the first LGBTQ+ Latina to serve in the US House. She also became her district’s first congresswoman. Since her election to the Washington State Senate in 2018, Randall, sponsored or co-sponsored about 200 bills, with significant achievements in expanding abortion access and creating comprehensive financial aid programs for college students.
Kim Makes History in Senate
Andy Kim from New Jersey was elected as the first Korean-American senator. He was previously a representative known for his hands-on approach, like cleaning the Capitol after the January 6th insurrection. His win reaffirms the steadily growing influence of Asian Americans in politics. A Rhodes Scholar and former Obama aide, Kim’s story validates his parents’ immigrant journey and hopefully inspires others.
Johnson Becomes the First Out LGBTQ+ Rep from the South
Julie Johnson made history as the first openly gay representative from the US South, taking the 32nd District. After years of breaking barriers in Texas politics, she brings a powerful voice for LGBTQ+ rights to Congress. Johnson’s legislative record includes defeating 200+ anti-LGBTQ+ bills and creating the first LGBTQ+ caucus in Texas.