Gossip in the workplace is a way for some to add a little excitement to their day. Those water-cooler conversations quench their thirst for a little drama while creating a means for communication and connection.
And let’s face it. In our culture and society, many people really dig it.
Whether it’s celebrity gossip programs that dish the dirt on our favorite stars, tell-all tabloids, or church gossip that gives the 4-1-1- on the pastor and the single mom that sings in the choir! Folks are talking.
Some see it as a harmless indulgence, while others view it as destructive and down-right nefarious.
All gossip is not created equally…
Most individuals would agree that there’s good gossip and bad. For example, promotions, pay raises, upcoming nuptials, and new management news shared via the internal “grapevine” are believed to not have any negative connotations or consequences.
While cheap talk about who’s sleeping with the boss, who are being pink-slipped, medical conditions, addiction issues, sexual orientation, and who needs to wear less makeup and more deodorant is not only hurtful but adversely affects office morale and productivity. And if you’ve been a victim, no doubt you can attest that it’s an awful blow to the ego.
Here are a few things to consider when participating in gossip in the workplace.
1. Your words, or perhaps someone else’s may do irreparable damage to someone’s career, depending upon the nature of the gossip, and to whom it spreads. Do you really want to get your “kicks” at a fellow employee’s expense?
2. Sure, you’re merely exercising your “first amendment rights”, but consider that what’s being shared may not be true. How would you like to be the victim of an out an out lie? Reflect and respond accordingly.
3. A wise man once said that “those who gossip with you will gossip about you.”
And last but not least, remember “loose lips sink ships!”
How do you handle office gossip? Do you think it’s harmless or hellish? Do tell!
Leave a Reply