Don’t Gossip and that’s an Order!

Ronald Reagan once said “I’ve always believed that a lot of troubles in the world would disappear if we were talking TO each other instead of ABOUT each other”
Well someone seems to agree with him and has ordered an end to gossiping at work - A Wall Street Hedge Fund has this week banned its staff from gossiping at work. If they are caught tittle tattling around the office they will be given a WARNING and are likely to be fired on the third occasion.
Will this make their office a happier place to work??

“Did you know that…….?”

We all gossip and trading information can be one way of social networking. It demonstrates that you are “in the loop” and “In the know”. Some psychologists have compared it to grooming in its ability to bond people in a group.
On the other hand, gossip can be destructive and costly if it gets out of hand.

The “Thin veneer of Sociability”

At work (and at home) it’s often the case that we don’t say what we think or feel until it’s too late.
Instead of expressing our dissatisfaction or unhappiness with a person or situation, we HIDE BEHIND A MASK pretending on the surface that all is well.
Rather than finding a way to discuss the issue we resort to destructive behaviour such as:

• Silence – ignoring and avoiding speaking to the other person
• Gossip – talking behind the other person’s back
• Withholding information – that they need
• Sabotaging their work
• Fighting – verbal or physical

A better way

Banning gossip could be just as destructive if genuine issues are forced underground and people resort to other behaviours to express their feelings.
A better way forward would be for the organization to teach its’ staff how to manage conflict constructively. Skills such as:

• Giving and receiving feedback
• Active listening

….and providing a process or system so that staff know how they are expected to deal with issues.

• WHO to talk to
• HOW to provide information
• WHEN it should happen

Banning anything creates an UNDERGROUND movement. Staff need instead to be ENCOURAGED to express their concerns in an open and honest way without fear of punishment or reprisals.
May sound like common sense but it’s not common practice!