Employees' conversations and chats at work give them a chance to express themselves, but sometimes these innocent conversations turn into gossip.
Professional relationships can be cultivated and your overall professional image can be improved by understanding the difference between healthy, respectful workplace communication and gossip.
How to identify office gossip
You can identify office gossip with a bit of mindfulness and practice, but the line between amicable conversations between colleagues and potentially harmful opinions is thin.
As a general definition, gossip consists of opinions expressed without the person's knowledge or consent about their personal life, work performance, or beliefs or views.
Identifying gossip in the workplace is the first step toward preventing it. Gossip can take many forms across many platforms. Among the most common types are:
Rumor-mongering or spreading doubtful information about colleagues
Secretly sharing personal information about a coworker
Spreading lies about a coworker, usually about a personal matter
Putting down a coworker behind his or her back
What You Can Do to Avoid Work Gossip
1. Make sure you have an outlet at home
Communicate your thoughts and feelings at home to avoid miscommunications and work gossip. Before returning to the office, creating a safe space at home can help you relax and process work-related stress.
2. Focus on something else
Avoiding work gossip is as simple as redirecting your attention. Avoid joining in on coworkers' gossip if you notice them doing so. Rather than getting involved, consider stepping away.
3. Keep your personal and professional lives separate
Identify what you are comfortable sharing with coworkers to avoid rumors and false information. Make sure you maintain clear boundaries between your professional and personal lives.
Even with colleagues with whom you are closer, consider what information you are comfortable sharing with them.
4. Ensure transparency
Honesty is the best policy for avoiding work gossip. Consider meeting in a private area with a coworker if you need to discuss something confidential.