4/15/2015
One of the most disruptive and potentially damaging activities in the workplace is when employees engage in gossip about the business, managers or co-workers. Negative rumors, whether true or false, can damage reputations of individuals as well as the overall business, especially if they leak out to the public. If you are a team leader, here are some ways to guard against the unwanted spread of gossip at your office.
Communicate Your Vision Clearly
Effective leadership is closely related to how well you can communicate with your team. If you hire the right like-minded employees with appropriate backgrounds and personalities, all you really need to do from then on is to make sure each of them understands the company vision, its goals and requirements. Such clarity can reduce stress and confusion that triggers gossip.
Limit Social Media Access
Social media can bring many positive elements to business - as long as it involves positive internal or external communication that involves helping the business succeed. But allowing workers to spend excessive time on a personal Facebook account, for example, can result in less worker productivity and more potential for unconfirmed rumors to spread.
Be a Role Model
Take the initiative to set behavioral examples for your staff. Keep the atmosphere positive at all times and avoid raising your voice at employees who are surrounded by worker friends. Positive energy will dissolve "us against them" perceptions.
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Confront Name Droppers Privately
If you need to reprimand someone for spreading rumors, calmly meet with them privately in your office and explain why this activity can hurt the company's image and ability to pay employees.
Monitor Staff Behavior
Stay on top of observing and evaluating each employee or delegate the responsibility to an assistant. Make sure all the members are team players who want the company to win.
The best approach to keep workplace communication under control is to develop strong relations with your staff by offering guidance and rewards. Don't let rumors persist when they disrupt your business. Handle it professionally by setting examples that inspire an atmosphere of trust and respect.
Also Read: What Are All Hands Meetings and Why Are They Important?