Avoiding Workplace Gossip
Here is a follow-up on the topic of workplace noise and chit-chat.
One form of such noise is gossip. From the point of view of evolutionary psychology, gossip seems to have had a survival value for human beings in the past; in terms of networking, influence, and alliances, it can play a constructive role according to the Psychology Today article “The New Word on Gossip”. However, in the workplace, gossip can be a waste of time and, in that sense at least, counterproductive. Additionally, it is often based on half-truths and concocted ideas, as illustrated in this educational video: “Gossip in the Office and Workplace”. Twisting information while passing it on is rarely funny. Common sense dictates that you don’t pass on certain things you’re told, yet some people can’t help doing this. They parrot what they’ve been told, either as they’ve heard it or in a clearly contorted form. Hence, a relatively benign comment may metamorphose into a hideous story – often blown out of proportion – propagated to a third, fourth, and fifth party. Those who gossip usually forget the possibility of “spontaneous trait transference”, also known as “the boomerang effect” in social psychology. They forget that gossip can backfire.
On the other hand, one cannot deny that some types of gossip can have their benefits. Unless you hear that someone’s just had a baby or that another’s relative has passed away, you are not likely to take the right action. This type of workplace chatter is a far cry from the other type often confused with free speech.
Dealing with workplace gossip is a tricky business. It may be likened to handling computer worms, Trojan horses, and viruses that corrupt people’s work, or to cookies at best. No matter how careful you are, things may unexpectedly go wrong. Still, professionalism dictates that you find for yourself a workplace environment that is relatively immune to such intrusions so that you may work in peace, ensuring efficiency – prevention is better than cure. If you can’t find such an environment – as such things don’t come pre-packaged with jobs – then you may need to create one for your own sake and that of your colleagues and organization as a whole.
Here is how Einstein related work to idle talk: “If A equals success, then the formula is A equals X plus Y and Z, with X being work, Y play, and Z keeping your mouth shut.”
Posted by May Mikati on 05 September 2011, 8:10 PM
Here is a follow-up on the topic of workplace noise and chit-chat.
One form of such noise is gossip. From the point of view of evolutionary psychology, gossip seems to have had a survival value for human beings in the past; in terms of networking, influence, and alliances, it can play a constructive role according to the Psychology Today article “The New Word on Gossip”. However, in the workplace, gossip can be a waste of time and, in that sense at least, counterproductive. Additionally, it is often based on half-truths and concocted ideas, as illustrated in this educational video: “Gossip in the Office and Workplace”. Twisting information while passing it on is rarely funny. Common sense dictates that you don’t pass on certain things you’re told, yet some people can’t help doing this. They parrot what they’ve been told, either as they’ve heard it or in a clearly contorted form. Hence, a relatively benign comment may metamorphose into a hideous story – often blown out of proportion – propagated to a third, fourth, and fifth party. Those who gossip usually forget the possibility of “spontaneous trait transference”, also known as “the boomerang effect” in social psychology. They forget that gossip can backfire.
On the other hand, one cannot deny that some types of gossip can have their benefits. Unless you hear that someone’s just had a baby or that another’s relative has passed away, you are not likely to take the right action. This type of workplace chatter is a far cry from the other type often confused with free speech.
Dealing with workplace gossip is a tricky business. It may be likened to handling computer worms, Trojan horses, and viruses that corrupt people’s work, or to cookies at best. No matter how careful you are, things may unexpectedly go wrong. Still, professionalism dictates that you find for yourself a workplace environment that is relatively immune to such intrusions so that you may work in peace, ensuring efficiency – prevention is better than cure. If you can’t find such an environment – as such things don’t come pre-packaged with jobs – then you may need to create one for your own sake and that of your colleagues and organization as a whole.
Here is how Einstein related work to idle talk: “If A equals success, then the formula is A equals X plus Y and Z, with X being work, Y play, and Z keeping your mouth shut.”
Posted by May Mikati on 05 September 2011, 8:10 PM
No comments:
Post a Comment