Berkeley, CA — Insight from a recent study of professional golfers may explain why some workers get teed off about political discussion on the job.
Tim Sels, a post-doctoral researcher at the University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business, led the study that examined more than 25,000 PGA Tour player tournament rounds from over 700 events between 1997 and 2022.
Sels and Yale University School of Management professor Balázs Kovács used players’ voter registration records and campaign donation data, as well as social media activity and public statements, to identify their political affiliations. The researchers then looked at the golfers’ scores when paired with both players with similar political views and those with opposing views.
Findings show that scores worsened by 0.2 strokes per round in politically mixed groups, including 0.55 strokes amid “periods of heightened national political polarization.” Gaps in performance were more prominent during driving and putting – when players stood closer to their partners.
“We’re not talking about heated political debates on the course,” Sels said in a press release. “Professional golfers maintain silence during shots. But simply being aware of politically different others in shared spaces creates psychological tension that disrupts performance.”
Sels and Kovács add that the climate on a golf course likely reflects the workplace. Stress caused by sensing or speaking about political differences can lower focus and individual performance.
Although the researchers “do not advocate organizational homogeneity,” the study states, they suggest employers “can mitigate anxiety by carefully structuring workplaces.” Their tips:
- Give workers more space during politically charged periods.
- Enhance psychological safety through inclusive practices.
- Encourage diversity in creative areas while giving people room to work independently when the work demands concentration.
The study was published in the journal Management Science.
