How To Stop Gossip

Submitted by mauzenne on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 16:27.
in

This cast addresses how to stop intra-office gossip.

What's that old saying? Management would be easy if it weren't for the people part of it? ;-) We think that epigram was coined surely by a manager who was NOT thinking about hiring those people, or promoting those people, or developing those people, or coaching those people. No, we think that manager was thinking about those people doing stupid, inefficient things like fighting and complaining and showing up late and wanting to leave early and dropping balls…and gossiping.

Gossip is a world-wide management distraction that will never go away. You hear rumors that Bob said X about Terry's ego, or Jane said Y about Darlene's skirt. Feelings are hurt, work suffers, somebody complains, and when you try to get to the bottom of things, there's nothing concrete. What to do?

  1. "First, Set No Policy" (The Manager Tools Rule of Policy Setting)
  2. Give Feedback To Those Whom You Are Told Are Gossiping
  3. Only Accept Behavior As Proof
  4. The Question Is – Do You Trust The Input?
  5. Don't Worry About Being Right
  6. Keep it At The Lowest Level


  [Play in Popup]

Extra Content
Legend:
    Members Only    Manager Tools Individual License
    Career Tools Individual License    Interviewing Series   
Bookmark and Share
tokyotony's picture
Submitted by tokyotony on Sat, 02/06/2010 - 00:22.

I like this podcast not just for the advice on stopping gossip

 I really enjoyed the advice on giving feedback when you believe what you heard is true, and how to know when you believe what you heard is true, as well as what to do when a direct pushes back since "you weren't there". A lot of good nuggets in the podcast, again, beyond just what to do with gossip!