The Political Is Personal

A guide for talking politics online

Hi Cringers,

Hope you’re all hanging in there.

It’s been an eventful week here in the US post-inauguration.

If you spend any amount of time on LinkedIn, you might have seen an uptick in political posts, with some people asking, “Do politics belong on LinkedIn?”

And I get the concern, political discussions are divisive, especially in 2025.

But politics also affect all our lives in one way or another.

Politics are closely tied to our values, experiences, and belief systems.

For some, these are triumphant times, the new “Golden Age,” while others fear for their lives, their rights, and their communities.

On top of that, the more time goes on, the more divided we all seem to become.

So, why bother “talking politics” when you might get trolled, repel potential clients, and start a comment battle with someone living in a different reality?

I’ve thought about this a lot over the past week as someone committed to helping people bring their values and real voice to how they show up online.

The conclusion I came to is that I can’t make the choice for anyone else.

As much as I want to tell people to speak out against injustices, I also recognize that there are all sorts of risks and privileges associated with that.

What I can do is offer you a guide based on some of the questions I’ve been asking myself over these last several days:

What is your work situation?

As a solopreneur, I have the freedom to use my voice in a way I couldn’t when I was employed by someone else. This isn’t something I take for granted, and was one of the biggest draws for me with starting my own business.

Those who are attached to a company have far less freedom when it comes to voicing their political opinions. One wrong word could mean losing their job or facing other repercussions at work.

If you work at a company and want to get political online, make sure to check in with your workplace to see what their policies are so you can weigh the risks.

How can you make the biggest impact?

Speaking out online can be a great way to show support, solidarity, and mobilize action, but it’s definitely not the only way.

If sharing your thoughts publicly feels too risky, consider other ways you can make a difference. Join a community group, donate, or volunteer to a cause you care about.

What are you most passionate about speaking up against?

You can’t fight a hundred battles at once.

Choose which topic(s) matter most to you right now and get focused on that. There’s so much to choose from: the environment, immigration, censorship, economics, etc.

If you have special knowledge or experience as it relates to one of these topics even better.

If you’re on a platform like LinkedIn, you could also choose to focus on topics as they relate to your work.

Do you work in healthcare? Focus on how government changes are impacting your work. Are you in education? Share your experience.

Where do you want to focus your efforts?

LinkedIn is not the same as X, is not the same as Youtube, is not the same as Bluesky.

Each platform has their crowds, tech overlords, and algorithms to be aware of.

In general, I’ve found LinkedIn to be one of the more supportive online platforms. Thoughtful discussion still exists there, and I’ve only had a few trolls so far:

Thanks to my trolls for looking out for my health.

Are you willing to repel people?

Just by saying the word “politics” you are going to repel people. I’ve lost followers and will probably lose subscribers from this email subject line alone.

I’m okay with that. If people don’t want to follow me, they don’t need to. If sharing my opinion makes someone not want to work with me, so be it.

But remember just as you’ll repel people, you’ll attract others.

Decide what you value, what you stand for, what the risks are, and if and how you want to speak out.

My primary focus this year will be to support entrepreneurs looking to stand up for people and our planet, so that even on days I can't find the words I can at least amplify the voices of those who can 🟡

Do you want help building your brand on LinkedIn and beyond? Here are some ways we can work together:

🟡 Book a Clarity Call. I can help you figure out your next steps.

🟡 Book a LinkedIn Profile Optimization or Full Rebrand.

🟡 Explore other ways we can work together

Not there yet? Follow me on LinkedIn for free daily insights on writing, branding, and developing your voice.

Lots of love to you all. Hope you can get some time to rest and unwind this weekend.