Without a doubt, gossip is one of the most damaging, destructive silent destroyers facing organisations today. I have seen it destroy individual careers, needlessly reduce an organisations impact, and fragment strong teamwork quicker than beer turns to piss.
Gossip spreads like a cancer; however, it often goes unrecognised and unchallenged. It spreads negativity, unhappiness, and division often naively to give the person who started it their ego a small boast at the cost of someone else.
Gossips often don’t believe they are a gossip because they didn’t start it. They feel they are above the gossips because they do not dare make up something about someone, but they will quickly believe it when someone else tells them, and thus spread it around and dangerously base their judgments and subsequent actions around it.
They are often justifying it as important news. People appear not to be not aware that it is wrong because their knowledge, organisational culture and minds tell it to them okay. It’s acceptable because others are doing, it’s okay because I get away with it, and it’s passable because I heard it from reliable sources.
Gossips love the tantalising details of other people’s lives, which they do not need to hear, nor should they. This person is in love with what is insatiable news of other people’s misery. They love the dirt and want to be the first with the scoop, and not only do they love to hear it, but they’ll repeat it and repeat it and repeat it. Putting people down with cynical and sly remarks to make themselves look or feel good.
Giving credence to every rumour, story, or criticism that springs up around them without fear or favour. It does not matter if it’s true or not because there is a misguided sense of trust between the listener and hearer
Those who believe allegations, no matter how trivial, without checking the facts or going to the person in question is just as guilty who started the rumours.
Talking and listening to trash:
- hurts individuals
- it erodes trust
- it causes division
- people and their reputations are put down
- It escalates existing problems and creates situations where non-existed
- It affects people impressions of the spreader the receiver and the victim
- It damages a person or organisation reputation including those that heard it and repeat it causing endless cycle of misinformation
So, what can you do to help stop it
If you cannot honestly justify your story then don’t say it, if you here one that is not justifiable challenge it and stop it in its tracks, if you are unsure THINK before you act!
T-THINK – is the information TRUE? Or is it just someone misperception?
H-HELPFUL– is it useful and for whom?
I-INSPIRING – will the information lead to positive and constructive outcomes?
N-NECESSARY – do I need it? Do I need to share it? If not, why share it
K-KIND – Will it be kind to the person, so in turn, you will be kind in giving it?
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