MANAGING RUMORS AND GOSSIPS IN POSITIVE WAY AT THE WORK PLACE
Source: https://content.wisestep.com/handle-deal-gossip-work/
Whatever people gather, there will be a conversation. Sometimes that conversation becomes gossips, which may bloom into rumor; much like office politics, rumors and excessive gossip in the workplace create a drain on morale that managers and HR professionals must get a handle on. Damaging rumors can cause uneasiness, distrust between management and staff and infighting between colleagues or departments. Allowing negative rumors to run wild is not an acceptable option.
Few Steps That Managers Should Take in Stopping Workplace Gossip
01.Address the Specific Culprits
The first step managers should take in stopping workplace gossip is to address the people spreading the gossip directly. This should be done in confidence so others cannot hear what is being discussed. Talk to the person and try to understand what is motivating them to spread gossip about another coworker. There might be an underlying issue that needs to be addressed.
02.Meet with Your Entire Team
Once you have addressed the individual perpetrators, it's essential to discuss the harmful impact that gossip can have in the workplace with your entire team. This is not the place to call out anyone individually but rather to have a generic conversation with the team as a whole.
03.Encourage Positive Gossips
The word "gossip" usually has a negative connotation, but gossip isn't always bad. Positive gossip is when managers and employees share positive stories about things going on in the office.04. Lead By Example
One of the most potent ways a manager can influence their team is by modelling good behaviour themselves. As a manager, it is your responsibility to stop gossip if you hear it in the break room.
05.Take Action When Needed
It is every manager's responsibility to make their employees feel safe and comfortable in the workplace. Therefore, if gossip is affecting a team member, they must put a stop to it. If a discussion with the perpetrator has not ended the behaviour, then it is time for the manager to take action.
ConclusionGossip is a solution stopper that harms people and can erode a culture while promoting a toxic workplace environment. It can increase conflict and decrease morale in addition to straining relationships while decreasing productivity. Gossip is the death of teamwork as it can create a divide that can sometimes require a senior-level leader or manager to spend valuable time refereeing.
References
https://content.wisestep.com/handle-deal-gossip-work/
https://garfinkleexecutivecoaching.com/articles/build-positive-work-relationships/top-10-ways-to-handle-gossip-in-the-wokplace
https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/employee-relations/pages/office-gossip-policies.aspx
Gossip is not always bad, manager 's should encourage employees to share positive gossips , good article
ReplyDeleteSome good topic.as Naduka mentioned,there are both positive and negative impacts can be seen in gossipping
ReplyDeleteGossip in the workplace has no good consequences. It's a tremendous time waster, it's horrible for morale, and it spreads faster than a nasty cold. Exercising great leadership entails learning to control rumor before it has an impact on the organization (Garfinkle, 2021)
ReplyDeleteInformal channels of communication are created spontaneously and not by management (Robbins, 2005). Informal communication is also called as, ‘Grapevine’ which also agents gossip and rumor. The office grapevine is used by a certain group of employers to seek facts on what is going on in the organization. Gossip at the workplaces is described as an informal and evaluative conversation in an organization, commonly in the midst of a small group of employees which is mostly about another individual who is not around (Kurland & Pelled, 2000). Allport and Postman (1947), defined rumors as intentional or a belief that is passed along from one individual to another individual by word of mouth without having standard shred of evidences.
ReplyDeleteWe need to be cunning and filter and drain , some times there will be advantages as well also agreed on above comments.
ReplyDeleteWhen employees don't trust their boss or don't have enough information, they make stuff up to fill in the gaps. Although this information is frequently inaccurate, people may trust it and take actions based on it. In this article you have tried to talk about the problem that everyone is facing thank you.
ReplyDeleteGossips are also called as grapevine rumors .it is the purest form of informal workplace dialogue, it is defined by talks between employees and bosses that are not structured or governed by any rules. Grapevine communication travels quickly and is likely to reach everyone in the company.Unverified, unproven information of unknown origin and dubious accuracy that has spread widely is referred to as rumor. And if managers and supervisors fail to address their employees' communication needs, the informal route of internal rumors will definitely grow.Good article and thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSome negative consequences of workplace gossip are: Erosion of trust and morale. Lost productivity and wasted time. Increased anxiety among employees as rumors circulate without clear information as to what is and isn't fact.
ReplyDelete