We were always told there are two things in life that are certain. Death and paying taxes. I would like to add one more thing to that list. That is workplace gossip. For everyone who has been in the workforce, whether they are entry-level or expert level, Conversation about the workers is inevitable.
No matter if your workplace is literally the garden of paradise of all the other workplaces you have been through, you can guarantee that there is a small snake in that grass whispering into your coworkers' and boss' ears about you. This can cause a lot of trouble for you with your coworkers and bosses who probably think of you highly. Sadly, there is no magic spell I can conjure up that can instantly make workplace gossip disappear or the gossiper themselves disappear, especially if they're on tenure. What I can give is a list of five easy steps that can help reduce or eliminate workplace gossip slowly, quietly and effectively.
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1. Consider the source.
In most anger management classes, they teach the top four reasons why people get angry. One of them is out of being insulted. One of the most primary solutions to that is to consider your source. In other words, ask yourself these questions: is the person gossiping about me a close friend? Is the person gossiping about me known to tell the truth or to lie a lot? Is the person gossiping about me is a better work performer than myself? Is the person gossiping about me talk about everyone else in the office? Is the person gossiping about me respect the boss?
2. DO NOT REACT.
I must put this in bold. It is real easy to lash out in anger about false witnesses against you, especially if they are absurd. Most of the time, gossipers start the gossip train in order to get a reaction out of you that could be unfavorable to your boss, and it could very well cost your job. This is especially true when they are being exposed for having a much poorer job performance than you, or they are inexplicably and/or blatantly jealous of your achievements. Giving them a reaction will give them the satisfaction that their words can get the best of you. This is why it is so important to not react immediately to not only the gossip but to the gossiper.
3. Voice your concerns to your boss and to your coworkers.
This is the part where you do not tattletale on the Gossiper, but let the boss and coworkers know what is true and not true about you. Once that occurs, but gossiper will more than likely will begin to back off once you start giving the facts to your coworkers and boss. Instead of Pointing fingers or calling out the gossiper's issues, you take accountability to what's true about you and denied what's false. This will make both your coworkers and boss believe you over the gossiper.
4. Confront the gossiper.
Without anger, confront the gossiper in a meek, yet firm and serious tone about what has been said. Usually, the gossiper will back down or go away once they realize that their words are no longer valid and that you are confronting them. Some will gossip all the way up to the confrontation, and stop after the confrontation. Then, you have the type of gossipers that more than likely will continue gossiping after you confront them, especially if they deny in your face that they are the gossiper out of fear. What do you do from there?
5. Address the company about making a "no gossip policy."
Getting your boss, supervisor, and coworkers behind on pushing a "no gossip policy" can make a difference in the workplace. It will help in promoting unity and trust among the staff, also it will give the clients the impression that the staff is to be trusted with their services and professionalism. This is especially true when you're working in a facility that aids people who are living with disabilities or in a children's home with wayward children.
Workplace gossip can be the very weed that will rot the fruits of labor in the workplace that have been sewn by hard-workers. Using these five particular tips will help and illuminating those weeds quietly and effectively.
