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Gossip, while often irresistible, often damages an organization. Sociologist Tim Hallet says gossip is “reputational warfare”, and offer these tips to manage gossip:
1.Develop informal relationships to understand the pulse of the organization.
2.Use gossip to learn about problems in the workplace. Gossip can be a type of teacher.
3.Don’t become defensive; that will only serve to fuel the trash talk.
4.Do not support the negative comments with other negative; that only legitimizes the gossip and lowers your own standing.
5.Try switching topics. Go back to the main goal or the agenda if in a meeting.
6.Productively confront an individual to understand why they are behaving that way.
7.Worst case scenario let the worst offender go. Gossip and bad behavior is like a cancer in an organization. It will only spread if gone unchecked.

Love your neighbor

One aspect of diversity no one discusses is the irritation factor at work caused by the physical layout of your office -- primarily open space or cubicles. Why is this illustrative of diversity? Because the physical workplace is now more diverse, with people likely to have widely different habits, preferences and sensitivities.

Consider co-workers who talk loudly on the phone or go on and on about personal problems. It's nothing new to me -- I worked in a newsroom for years with reporters pounding on typewriters and shouting into the phone. But it's a relatively new phenomenon to many who are used to offices with doors shut. And it's irritating.

You can try tuning it out. You can try headphones. And if all else fails, you may need to talk to the person when your coping strategies have failed. Experts advise you be as neutral and nonjudgmental as possible, and understand that people may be completely unaware that they are being annoying. And remember -- they may see you the same way.