Office Gossip: Are you aware of who the culprits are?
Everyone likes to hear a bit of gossip now and then, but have you ever thought that the person dishing out the gossip could also be the one spreading it?
Gossip in the workplace is one subject that we can't shy away from, no matter how hard we try. In every office, there is that one person who knows everything that's going on about everyone.
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I have come across countless ways to get rid of workplace gossip with some tips, including confronting your superior about it directly and even confronting the perpetrator to his/her face. But I guess no matter how hard we try, getting rid of office gossip is a long shot?
If there's one guy at East Coast Radio that loves a little bit of gossip it's my producer, Simon. If you want to get his undivided attention, you just say 'Have you heard about...".I hate office gossip, but the thing is, don't we always find ourselves listening if someone starts a little 'skinner' session? I guess it's a way to protect ourselves too?
So, I think people who spread gossip on the basis that if others are talking about you, then the focus is off them, and people who spread malicious gossip are generally pretty insecure about themselves and often envious of the subject of the gossip.
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Criticising someone, or in other words, gossiping about someone, also has a psychological relevance. By doing so, people get a morale boost.
So do you have someone in your office who's the gossip king or queen? You don't have to give us their name, let's just shed some light on the situation to enlighten each other.
Does it bother you to know that this person dishing gossip to you could also be dishing out your personal gossip to everyone else?