Workplace Gossip

Shun gossip, then there’s a plenty of productive time. Stop hateful backbiting, then there’s a goodness that creeps in to stimulate harmony and teamwork. A simple environment like this can turn managers to motivators, with great ideas and their subordinates to loyal staff with great enthusiasm. O boy, this is the workplace spirit, a good work atmosphere!

Gossiping goes on anytime, with no restrictions. More often gossipers are active during break times, out from the office cubicles and production areas, as if freed prisoners they first breathe their full to enliven their lungs. Standing at ease or with typical postures, like actors, they reflect their thoughts and notions, with a giggling nuance or panicking laughter. No concrete discussions, but gossip about irrelevant issues, office politics and shenanigans or inactive scenarios of collapsing workers’ morale.

Gossipers come out with big mouths, and dare not speak of initiatives to rectify the work culture; they neither gather ingredients to infuse team spirit nor churn unity for a singular corporate culture—that speaks about corporate social responsibility, employees commitments and work efficiency.

Strange isn’t it? Less work, slow productivity, and more stuff from a culture of gossips. And then, rumors fly, without wings, all unchecked. Gossipers and lazy workers move around, shuttling from one department to other department, leaking secrets, exchanging idle talks and ideas, and they presume, as if they are networking, with a mark of social affinity.

Aha, gossipers sometimes, are so sharp, that they lace mere guesswork to little facts, and turn it into a juicy gossip. People, at short intervals, gather in groups to listen some new gossip or breaking news about others’ reputations. It’s so untrustworthy mannerism of selfish employees.

The one who is open honest, sincere employee, with a sense of responsibility will feel sick of such office gossip, which suffocates the workplace community.

Now-a-days, decency at workplace is outdated or rarely practiced. Who cares good words, good leadership lessons, or techniques for teamwork? Gossipers, who in fact are lazy, most insecure and least productive workers, are hungry to gather information about others and delving people’s private lives; they just spew rumors as a way of opposing others and use savory tidbits to influence their colleagues.

Well, as a final lesson, it should be remembered that workplace gossip is toxic, it’s destructive, distracting and discrediting talk that prompts resentment and clashes among colleagues, and it results in disorder, alienation from others and complex decision-making. In fact, gossip, at workplace, is harmful to productivity and morale.

So, let’s jettison gossip from our lives, encourage respect, talk sensibly at appropriate time or be silent, and help promote a great sense of teamwork.

Image source: lectoraatchangemanagement.nl