| There is one thing in life that is as inevitable as death | | | | distinguish useful information from the dross. |
| and taxes, and that is the existence of gossip. In a | | | | Let it slide |
| perfect world, rumor mongers don't exist, but this | | | | Pay no heed to personal, vindictive or malicious |
| has never been a perfect world. Gossip and people | | | | attacks, especially those that aim to damage the |
| who gossip are a fact of life. | | | | reputation of people or companies and especially if |
| Gossip is a fact of life - not just in the workplace, | | | | you're working for those people or for that company. |
| but everywhere a group of people gather. | | | | If you are always affected by gossip and you try to |
| Housewives gossip; they exchange the latest juicy | | | | shut it down, you're going to live your whole life |
| news over the fence, by phone, at the PTA | | | | aggravated and you're not going to be able to |
| meetings, etc. Even CEOs and company executives | | | | change a thing. Even if you fire every one of the |
| also engage in it. They may discuss the latest | | | | people who help spread gossip around, you're only |
| industry developments with their fellow CEOs during | | | | going to stop it for a while, until it begins again. |
| lunch at the Rotary Club meeting but, at the end of | | | | Be on the lookout |
| the day, what they're doing is exchanging gossip - | | | | On the other hand, pay attention to rumors about |
| especially if they're talking about matters that have | | | | your workplace - but try to validate or disprove this |
| not been officially announced. | | | | as soon as possible. There is a difference between |
| The Two Channels of Human Communication | | | | malicious, nasty or spiteful rumors - and information |
| There are two channels of communication in every | | | | that may have a negative impact on your company |
| aspect of human activity: the official or formal | | | | and your position. Learn to distinguish between the |
| channel where pronouncements from the higher ups | | | | two. |
| are sent down to the lower rungs. The official | | | | Evaluate gossip carriers |
| version is what's on paper and what's professed by | | | | Pinpoint the most active gossip suppliers, and |
| the employers. | | | | categorize them according to their reliability. Use your |
| Then there is the unofficial or informal channel, also | | | | personal rating to interpret the value of the gossip |
| known as the grapevine and the source of the | | | | being spread. The CIA, FBI and every other |
| so-called gossip and rumors. The informal channel is | | | | intelligence agency does the same thing - why |
| where official versions are speculated upon and | | | | shouldn't you? |
| colored by personal opinions and subjective | | | | Supply positive gossip |
| assessments. | | | | Use the grapevine to feed positive news. Gossip |
| Aside from delving into company business, gossip also | | | | flows two ways; use the grapevine as a means to |
| deals in talk about the latest Hollywood love affair | | | | circulate good news about your company or the |
| gone sour, malicious and personal attacks, harmless | | | | people you work with. |
| chatter about company love affairs, what the | | | | Confront the source |
| cafeteria will serve, which stores have a promotional | | | | If the gossip is about you and is a pack of lies, |
| offer at the mall, etc. | | | | confront the source and set the record straight. This |
| Using the Grapevine to Your Advantage | | | | is the only time where you are allowed to take |
| There are two things to keep in mind about gossip: | | | | gossip seriously; ignore it as best as you can at all |
| one, that there is no avoiding it; and two, there are | | | | other times. |
| often useful - even valuable - nuggets of information | | | | The above guidelines will make for a more congenial |
| that can be gleaned from gossip. The important thing | | | | working environment and less headaches for you as |
| is to separate the valuable information from the | | | | a manager. Best of all, you will be using the grapevine |
| gibberish. Here are some guidelines to help you | | | | to your advantage rather than be a victim of it. |
