Taming the Gossip Monster
“Oh my God you’ll never believe what Jenny did.” “Did you hear what Ben told a customer yesterday?” “Oh I heard he isn’t really doing too well in that position.” “Did you hear this company might be sold due to bankruptcy?”
…. And on, and on, and on. This type of workplace gossip plagues businesses and organizations all across the world. Gossip is extremely toxic in a workplace and must be addressed, ideally before it causes a major issue. Here are a few helpful tips for taming the gossip monster:
Tip 1: Nip it in the bud.
Workplace gossip is not acceptable. Period. This must be a conversation included in onboarding for new employees. In order to hold them accountable when issues arise later, it is important to establish a no-gossip policy upfront. According to the Careerstone Group (n.d), “Include a section that deals with gossip in the company handbook. Convey to your employees that such talk is injurious to morale and productivity and will not be tolerated.” If this conversation is not had upfront it will be more difficult to discuss it in the future.
Tip 2: Provide an alternative.
Workplace drama is bound to happen, it is simply inevitable when different personalities spend extended periods of time together. Employees need to feel that they have a place to discuss tensions or frustrations with coworkers. According to the Harvard Business Review (2015) “Leaders at the company also reduce the supply of gossip by decreasing demand. They proliferate options for raising problems.” Leaders are able to provide an environment for employees to discuss issues without taking them to their coworkers.
Tip 3: Encourage positive communication
Employees are going to interact with each other so it is essential to show them how to do so in a positive way! The Harvard Business Review (2015) notes later in the same article, “Gossip is a form of learned incompetence — an acquired skill that produces poor results. Overcoming it requires replacing that skill.” Find a way to replace gossip with encouragement.
Gossip can very easily become the worst nightmare for an employer. It can turn team members against each other and spread false information. No matter the size of the organization it is essential to address the issue with each employee by setting the expectation and holding them accountable. Less gossip typically leads to more positive communication within a workplace.
References:
Grenny, J., & Dillon, K. (2015, January 09). Stop Enabling Gossip on Your Team. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2015/01/stop-enabling-gossip-on-your-team
The Danger of Workplace Gossip. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://careerstonegroup.com/blog/105/The-Danger-of-Workplace-Gossip