Dinah YoungProject Manager / Software Asset Manager| Prince William CountySpringfield, Va, United States
In an office gossip can cause a lot of damage. When we think of gossip, we often think of it occurring amongst the regular employee. But it also occurs in management. I think the main cause of gossip is lack of information. If the proper information is not being shared, gossip will fill in the blanks. If management says there are going to be changes in the organization but gives no details, guess what will happen, gossip will try to fill in the blanks. I have also seen management spread unsubstantiated information about their employees.
What do you think causes gossip to run rampant and how can it be controlled? Saving Changes...
Daniel JeanData & Analytics Scrum Master| Delta DentalChicago, Il, United States
I think gossip run rampant in offices because people feel a sense of validation to be able to share the information as if it makes them feel more important. I think gossiping needs to be addressed in the open and the harm of it. I think having a meeting in silos with perpetrators doesn't really address the culture Saving Changes...
I'd agree that gossip will fill the void. However, if all levels of the organization take a zero tolerance approach to it then it won't flourish.
It is also sometimes a symptom of a company culture that fears transparency and failure - if people lack the confidence to openly ask questions or challenge a questionable decision, the rumor/gossip mill will grind!
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
I agree with Kiron on the Zero Tolerance concept. Gossip can be detrimental to the environment and should not be tolerated. Saving Changes...
Dinah YoungProject Manager / Software Asset Manager| Prince William CountySpringfield, Va, United States
Conceptually, zero tolerance may make sense. But what will be the repercussions? And remember, people are people. If something is stressing them out they will talk about it.
It is definitely a symptom of company culture. When a manager says that there is something about to happen but they can't tell you what, it ensures that people are going to talk about it.
What our current CIO has done is tell us that he has an open door and if you have any questions, come to him. It is more about opening the lines of communication as opposed to shutting everything down. Saving Changes...
Daniel JeanData & Analytics Scrum Master| Delta DentalChicago, Il, United States
I agree with your points Dinah. Saving Changes...
Anton OosthuizenSenior Business Analyst / Project Manager| Self EmployedPretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
Dinah you are 100% correct. Gossip is normal human behaviour and nothing will ever stop it but a lack of transparency and/or insufficient information fuels it and the gossip then becomes rumor. It is this type of gossip that is harmful. The concept of zero tolerance is not really viable in this instance. Until recently I worked for a big company that used to supply these half-truths and then sat back while the gossip mill went to work. Classic example: One month before xmas they announced that a restructure will be coming and some may lose their jobs, have a merry xmas. What do you think happened to the level of gossiping? For a company like this to have a zero tolerance is daydreaming. Saving Changes...
Lack of information and incorrect information sharing process may lead to this. The more you can provide the team with timely, accurate and adequate information, the more you can make the gossip/rumor effects ineffective. You may not be able to avoid it, however, you can make it ineffective with transparency. Saving Changes...
Eric SimmsSenior Program ManagerBaltimore, Maryland, United States
"If management says there are going to be changes in the organization but gives no details, guess what will happen, gossip will try to fill in the blanks."
That's exactly what happened with a recent reorganization in my division. Management gave cryptic hints that change was coming, but didn't give any details. Gossip naturally occurred as people tried to figure out what the changes would be and how they'd be impacted.
To answer your question, it is Management's lack of communication that causes gossip to spread. It's nearly impossible for gossip to blossom and spread when information is readily available. I can't imagine any beneficial reason why Management would encourage an atmosphere of uncertainty among employees. Saving Changes...
Zero tolerance won't work with gossip. It is baked into human nature. People love to talk, and instinctively take sides, whether it's a sports team, political view, or people they like or dislike at the office. When heavy restrictions apply, people only talk softer. While I agree that gossip can be harmful, or at the very least not productive, I am a free speech advocate. I take the view that if something, anything, is said or done that someone doesn't like, confront it head on as part of regular conflict management. Gossip, like any other form of communication, may reveal a problem otherwise undetectable if it wasn't talked about in the first place.
Gossip: "casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details which are not confirmed as true."
And what happens when they are confirmed as true? Does the gossip label get removed and replaced with truthsayer? And what is truth? Truth to one person is another person's lie. Saving Changes...
It is very destructive and lead/indicates immaturity, Embellishment, Emotionally violent, Seductive and very destructive. I have zero tolerance for it, however, in some cultures, it is the style of management. I used to hear the gossip news from the coffee boy before it gets announced in one of my projects in Saudi. Later on decided to avoid having my ear to it. Saving Changes...
Community Champion
