Avoid gossip in workplace
A negative work environment is a less productive work environment.
Gossip in the workplace can create an uncomfortable atmosphere for not
only the person the gossip is about, but for everyone in the workplace.
Gossip can often become likened to the old childhood game of
“Telephone”, where one person starts the spread of information, and by
the time it reaches the last person, it has evolved and changed into
something entirely different. Some bits of gossip may have truth to it,
while other bits of information carried on the gossip relay may be
false. Either way, gossip is a hurtful means of communication and should
be avoided at all cost.
Analyze the source of the gossip
Think about whom the person is and their character when considering
the information they are spreading. Ask yourself why they would say what
they are saying, how will they benefit from spreading the gossip? There
is no real benefit that will come from gossip and its main reason is to
degrade and take pleasure in negative information about another person.
Evaluate information
Evaluate the information you share with co-workers. There are some
things that are better left unsaid than to share it with those you only
socialize within the workplace. You may think what you are sharing is
harmless to you and others, while someone else may see it as the latest
scoop and start spreading it. Again, think back to the childhood game of
“Telephone” and consider how your information may get twisted and
changed as it gets passed along.
Limit your association
Limit your association with the office gossip. By not being
associated with a person that tends to thrill from spreading gossip, you
will have less chance of being included as the original source of the
gossip. Remember how easy it is to fall prey to guilt by association.
Let gossip end with you.
When you are given a tid-bit of gossip, do not pass it on. Gossip
that receives no fuel will smoulder and fizzle out before it has the
chance to do any harmful damage.
Walk away
Walk away from situations where gossip is being formulated. Again,
not giving power to the source of gossip will help extinguish the spread
of information that may have little truth.
Change the topic
A quick way to stop gossip in its track is to change the topic of
discussion.
Confront
Confront the person that is gossiping. Ask them why they believe this
information should be spread around the office and what personal gain
they will derive from it. Sometimes the best defense against office
gossip is to have a strong offense in not tolerating the action of
gossip. Let the gossiper know you are not comfortable discussing the
information they are fueling the gossip with. You can even say, “Hey, I
do not like talking about other people’s private business, because I
sure would not like them talking about me.”
Gossipers hate confrontation
Tell the person who is gossiping that maybe you both should go and
ask the person the gossip is about to clarify the information. This is a
sure way to stop gossip in its track, because most gossips tend to cower
away at the thought of confronting the person the gossip is about.
Remind gossips the consequences of gossiping
Remind the gossip that workplace gossip does come with consequences
that can include them being reprimanded by the higher-ups if they are
found to be the source of gossip. Most workplaces have an established
work environment handbook that includes discipline actions for the
spread of gossip.
Do not gossip yourself
Lead by example. When you choose not to gossip or participate in
gossip sessions, you send a clear message to others that gossiping is a
negative attribute in the workplace. Also, you do not want to be part of
spreading information that might be false and or hurtful about another
person.
- ehow.com
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