How to deal with a culture of gossip

I think the most difficult people to lead effectively are those who show little respect for their colleagues. My experience has taught me that the sooner you deal with difficult people, the quicker the healing can happen and trust can be established. As long as the culture of gossip is allowed, no trust can exist between co-workers in a department. You have noticed that I have not called this group a team. Teamwork occurs when there is synchronicity and mutual respect. Gossip and backbiting is enormously destructive and creates an internal Diaspora breeding distrust and despair.

Here are some reasons why gossip foments and signs to look for:

• A culture of complaint and criticism has been tolerated in your department.
• A leader has allowed workers to come to him with petty complaints about other people’s performance.
• The atmosphere in the department allows poor productivity or quality to be blamed on another department or other contributors to the project.
• People are criticized or made fun of because of their personal attributes or habits.
• Members of other departments are discussed freely and frequently.
• A strong sense of snobbery exists.

You have to be ruthless with gossip. Stop it, train your people not to tolerate it and to put a stop to it as it occurs. Being assertive is the only way to put an end to this behavior. You have to make sure that you live by the rules against gossip impeccably.

Make a commitment to your colleagues and yourself. Change it now.