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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.