The only time people dislike gossip is when you gossip about them.
–Will Rogers
Do you have a whisper and gossip culture at your shop? And if you do, what’s the odds of creating a high involvement workplace?
Support this post around the web. We would really appreciate it.
KnowHR Blog serves up straight talk about human resources. We like simplicity in language. We believe that people really want to do a good job, that there are ways to create motivation, and that communication is at the heart of it all.
KnowHR is a product of iFractal LLC, which provides organizational communication consulting to some of the leading companies of the world.
Laurie Ruettimann
Jun 13th, 2008
I also like, “Three people can keep a secret if two are dead.”
Frank Roche
Jun 13th, 2008
Ain’t that the truth? I hate the gossip culture…but I love a good secret.
Bill
Jun 14th, 2008
Sometimes knowing how gossip works at your place can be a powerful tool to getting out information in a way that is very sticky.
Frank Roche
Jun 14th, 2008
Great point. Trials balloons are launched in the rumor mill first.
rick
Jun 16th, 2008
If you manage people it is so important to keep up with the gossip. Far too many things become real even when they aren’t. It is best to correct misperceptions quickly.
Chad Bordeaux
Jun 27th, 2008
I remember a salon client once called the backroom the devil’s playground. This is where all the stylist went to “gossip” and destroy the morale of the salon.
Ultimately, the client changed out all the staff (over a few months) and to my knowledge, this does not occur anymore. The current staff has great morale and have all been there for about 5 years.
Gossip can kill morale. And low morale can kill a business.