Gossip is an unproductive communication with someone who cannot help solve the problem at hand. Tackling gossip requires taking both organisational responsibility and personal responsibility.

When Chitchat Becomes Gossip

• Does the chitchat rejoice in the misfortune of others? Yep, gossip.
• Does it have a negative emotional charge or seem to perpetuate conflict or negativity? Gossip again.
• Does it hurt or damage the one being spoken of? It is Gossip!
• Would you say it in front of this person’s face? No? Gossip!
• Is it an unsubstantiated rumour about another employee’s work situation (a promotion or demotion)? Uh-huh, gossip.

What Gossip Does to the Work place

• Gradual decline of trust and morale.
• Work productivity goes down because people are emotionally caught up in the drama like teenage kids.
• Anxiety and tension are high as rumours circulate and people walk on eggshells without knowing what is and isn’t fact.
• Divisiveness as people take sides.
• Unexpected turnover and loss of good talent who left due to the toxic work environment.

9 Steps to Getting Rid of Gossip

1. Enact ‘zero-tolerance’ policies on workplace gossip
2. Set an example
3. Let the boss know
4. Address the perpetrators
5. If you’re a manager, meet and discuss with your team
6. Encourage positive gossip
7. Ignore the gossiper
8. Turn it back on the gossiper with a positive thing to say
9. Keep your private life private

5 Ways to Transform Work Gossip Into Positive Communication

1. The art of redirection
2. Honesty first
3. Client-facing communication
4. Focus on the positive
5. Become a communication master

Become a communication master

• Say what you mean and mean what you say. Be clear and make direct requests.
• Write and speak in a way that your audience can understand.
• Address issues only with those who possess the ability to help you solve them.
• Use “I” statements, not “we” statements. Speak only on behalf of yourself. 

6 Tactics to help Reduce Workplace Gossip

1. Respect Your Neighbour
2. Regular Communication
3. Address Key Gossipers
4. Team Meetings
5. Open Door Policy
6. Lead by Example

Famous Quotes on Gossips

“Be Impeccable With Your Word. Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.” (Miguel Angel Ruiz, a great book ‘The Four Agreements’)

“A cruel story runs on wheels, and every hand oils the wheels as they run.” (Ouida)

“Good gossip is just what’s going on. Bad gossip is stuff that is salacious, mean, and bitchy; the kind most people really enjoy.” (Liz Smith)

“Fire and swords are slow engines of destruction, compared to the tongue of a Gossip.” (Richard Steele)

“He gossips habitually; he lacks the common wisdom to keep still that deadly enemy of man, his own tongue.” (Mark Twain)

“A real Christian is a person who can give his pet parrot to the town gossip.” (Billy Graham)