I was doing my random online reads when I came across an article of a staff complaining about gossiping colleagues. The situation sounded so familiar and I believe this happens in a majority of offices if not all. There is almost always that one or two people who fit this profile so well, you would think the writer is writing about them. It got me thinking on the emotional torture the person writing the mail went through to the extent of resigning. Gossiping can undermine morale and cause productivity losses.
This article made me do some research of my own on information available online. The result was overwhelming. I however made a summary of what to do in the event you are in such a situation. There are so many other article available freely online that might help. I picked this from a small sample
Disclaimer: These solutions are not my work but a compilation from several articles I read online
Kevin Johnston writer for Ameriprise Financial and Rant Finance gave an outline of ways to confront gossiping in the office.
- Step 1 - Acknowledge the gossip. Ignoring gossip can actually ruin your career. If the gossip is about you, it can grow into a fact in some people's minds, and you will not be able to undo it. The best approach is to openly say that you have heard the gossip. Letting the gossipers know you are on to them can stifle the rumors.
- Step 2 - This is for Managers/Team Leads. Announce or reiterate your policy. Call a meeting and go over the company policy regarding gossip. Let your workforce know you do not take gossip lightly, and that you not only consider it detrimental to a positive work environment, you consider it a threat to productivity and the bottom line. Make the consequences for gossiping clear, up to and including termination for repeat offenders.
- Step 3 - Confront the gossiper directly. Don't use the word "you." Instead say that there are rumors in the office and they are disturbing. This will allow the person doing the gossiping to save face while getting the message that you know who the culprit is and that further action will be taken if it continues.
- Step 4 - Communicate clearly. Gossip starts in the workplace when employees don't know what is happening with the business. You can avoid rumors about the demise of the business, layoffs or declining sales by simply stating the truth clearly and openly. Answer all questions honestly in a meeting and employees will have no reason to gossip.
There are other ways to deal with gossip as outlined below
- Don't take office gossip to heart. A lot of office gossip is just that - gossip. It is filled with innuendo, rumors, errors and even deliberately malicious nonsense. Take it with a pinch of salt rather than reacting personally or defensively. There is no doubt that gossip must be dealt with strongly and immediately but it will not help your situation as a team leader or colleague to take it personally. Focus instead on the reality that there is an underlying reason or series of reasons causing the gossip and focus on dealing with it objectively as a task rather than as a personal attack to be foiled in an emotional or angry manner.
- Arm yourself with the facts. Is there truth to the tall tales? Sometimes there is a kernel of truth and this should be uncovered before addressing the problem so that you are well placed to respond with facts rather than emotions.
- Challenge a personal gossiper directly. Some people gossip because they enjoy it or they feel insecure about others in the workplace. Most gossipers are pure attention-seekers. A persistent and long-term gossiper must be stopped in their tracks by calling their bluff. View such people as attention-seekers and give them some attention within limits by hearing them out in a closed-door meeting.
- Don't participate in office gossip. If you participate in office gossip, you perpetuate it and you belittle yourself. In particular, if you have leadership aspirations, or you are already in a position of leadership, any participation in office gossip by you will be viewed negatively and as anti-team spirited. Always ask yourself about your motivation when discussing others in a personal way within the work context; if you are talking about them to ingratiate yourself with others or to make yourself appear better, then it is likely that you are gossiping.
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Whether you have been the one gossiping or you've been gossiped about, it's important that you learn how to deal with gossip, and how problematic it can really be. It doesn't matter whether gossip is true or false, it still has no place at work.
The negative effects of gossip are strained relationships, mistrust, discontentment, even anger, and decreased productivity. For example, how much time have you wasted, in long conversations, complaining to others about the assistant who isn't as helpful as he could be, or your partner who isn't as loving as you'd like, or how you know that that other department has a hidden agenda, that conflicts with your team's goals!
Most of us intuitively realize that people who are gossips, do not have an inner world that is healthy and rich.
Do you get, that if someone is a workplace gossip, it is because they feel insecure/inadequate? And/or they have a low sense of self-worth, and are desperate to find some way of feeling better about themselves.
Contrast this with a person why shies away from gossip ... these people are too busy focusing on being the best they can, on making their personal dent in the universe.
Think of someone you know who seems to stay away from workplace gossip.
Would you say that that person is fairly secure within their own self?
Is this a person who seems to have a good sense of their own self?
Is this person quite successful?
Do others look upon him or her with high regard and is s/he well liked?
Is this a happy person?
Contrast that with a person who is a known workplace gossip.
Does this person seem to constantly try to find fault with others to make him or herself look better?
Is this person well liked and trusted?
Is the vibe around this person pleasant or unpleasant?
Do you think this is a happy person?
Have you ever tried going seven days without talking about another person, period?
Try it, but don't be surprised if you can't get past the first hour without finding yourself talking about someone who isn't a part of the conversation! But that doesn't mean you stop trying. Eventually you will learn how not to gossip......................
