The Key Class: The Keys To Job Search Success by Daly Jr. John J

Author:Daly Jr., John J. [Daly Jr., John J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Troll River Publications
Published: 2013-08-04T04:00:00+00:00

Gossip in the Workplace

Maybe you think that gossip is a harmless, unavoidable element of corporate life. It isn’t. Left unchecked, gossip plays havoc on company morale and efficiency. I’m not talking about who had drinks together after work. Rather, I’m referring to talk among co-workers, managers, and executives about work-related matters to someone who can’t do anything about it. This type of complaining is a way of not dealing with something upfront, but actually handling it in a cowardly fashion.

The tendency to complain is human. So, why is it a big deal? Primarily because workplace gossip is unproductive, breeds resentment and becomes a roadblock to effective communication and collaboration. It doesn’t mean that you should not ever voice a negative opinion about anything work-related or that you shouldn’t be encouraged not to question things. But it’s ironic that workplace gossip is often about things that really matter to the company or team or individuals and should be addressed openly. It’s things like:

 Are they going to start layoffs?

 It’s not fair that our department’s travel-entertainment budget got cut 20% while the sales department didn’t take a hit.

 I can’t believe my boss didn’t acknowledge me for my work and took the credit himself!

These things are toxic for the entire organization. When they stop, it means that the team has finally embraced honest communication and is dealing with issues head-on and addresses them to the person who can actually do something about them. It enhances teamwork, trust and good communication.

How Can You Politely Shut Down Gossip?

For this to work, the CEO or senior person has to declare, “No more gossip.” A no tolerance policy needs to be adopted. It should be okay for one person to “call out” another, but it needs to be done in a light-hearted way.

To avoid engaging, steer clear of places (like the coffee pot) where gossip abounds or people who are likely to partake in it linger. If others start gossiping, change the subject. You can respond with something like, “Oh, I didn’t know. So, how did you think the meeting went today?” If the gossiper persists, let him/her know you are not comfortable engaging in that type of conversation, that you are not interested and walk away. If you are worried about appearing rude, just excuse yourself to go to the restroom or make urgent phone calls – both of which are legitimate activities during your workday.

Talk to your supervisor rather than a coworker about your concerns. Coworkers may spread your words to others, which will get misinterpreted or exaggerated, thus effectively spreading rumors and gossip. Ultimately, your supervisor will hear an extorted version of your words rather than what you actually said. You don’t want to be considered the source of gossip.

Don’t repeat gossip to others. If you happen to overhear gossip, don’t spread it. Consider reporting the gossip to your supervisor to let him/her know this is an obvious source of concern within the company.

Encourage those who are gossiping to go directly to

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