Give up Negative Gossip

For years I have said, “Please spread positive gossip!” I like the idea of people spreading good news about other people. It’s a lovely idea to celebrate the role models and the ordinary heroes in our circle. But there is a shadow side to talking about others. It’s about spreading nasty workplace rumours and negative gossip.

Actually the word, gossip classically indicates lies about others. The Oxford Dictionary defines gossip as:

Casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details which are not confirmed as true.”

Yes, regrettably, people engage in this activity for a variety of reasons and rumors spread. It sounds something like this, “I heard from Lois that Mary said that Jane is messing around with the boss.” Jane inevitably becomes what is called a victim of gossip.

The Problem

Negative gossip can have a range of negative effects on individuals and social environments. Here are some problems that can arise:

1. Damage to Reputation: Negative gossip can tarnish a person’s or a group’s reputation, leading to mistrust and potential isolation. This can impact personal relationships, professional opportunities, and social interactions.
2. Harm to Mental Health: Being the subject of rumors can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. It creates a hostile environment and can contribute to a person’s overall emotional distress.
3. Erosion of Trust: Negative gossip erodes trust within social circles, workplaces, and communities. It can make people hesitant to share personal information or collaborate openly, damaging the foundation of healthy relationships.
4. Conflict and Division: Rumors especially when they’re negative, can cause conflicts among individuals or groups. Misunderstandings, resentment, and even confrontations may arise as a result.
5. Productivity and Performance Decline: In a workplace, negative gossip can lead to decreased employee morale and productivity. When people are more focused on gossip than their work, it can affect overall team performance.
6. Spread of Misinformation: Exaggeration or fabrication can lead to the spread of misinformation. This can distort facts, making it difficult to discern truth from fiction.
7. Isolation and Exclusion: People who are the target of rumors might feel excluded or marginalized within social circles. They may withdraw from interactions to avoid further harm.
8. Impact on Relationships: Negative gossip can strain friendships and familial relationships, leading to strained communication and lack of trust.
9. Cultivation of Negativity: Engaging in or perpetuating negative rumors can cultivate a culture of negativity. This can create an environment where toxic behavior is normalized and encouraged.
10. Deterioration of Overall Well-being: The cumulative effects of negative gossip can contribute to a decline in overall well-being, affecting mental, emotional, and even physical health.

Why People Negatively Gossip

People do these mean spirited acts to people like Jane for various reasons. Four key motivators include:

1. Feeling left out. Being excluded is emotionally difficult. Figuring out, and joining in, group norms are natural tendencies. Bending to the majority’s pressure is more common than we want to admit. It is not just teens who participate in poor behaviour because of peer pressure. Being ‘in on the secret” gives a sense of inclusiveness.
2. Low self-esteem and confidence. When we put others down, it can temporarily elevate our self-assurance. Comparing ourselves to others is common. Envy can kick in. It takes practice to discipline ourselves to compare our old selves to our matured selves.
3. Caught in the drama. When we’re bored with our daily routine and grind, a little gossip can add some excitement.
4. Anger, resentment or jealousy. Getting back at people by starting or participating in negative or malicious gossip can feel satisfying. The flip side is it looks, smells, and sounds like offensive judgment or bullying.

You may not be able to stop or avoid negative gossip at work or your community, but you can choose to take the high ride.

How to Avoid Negatively Spreading Rumors

To mitigate these problems, it’s important to promote open communication, encourage positive interactions, and address negative gossip when it arises. Fostering a culture of respect, empathy, and understanding can help prevent the harmful consequences of negative gossip.

• Check your intention for discussing other people’s matters or relationships. Adopt an intention to serve the truth and kindness.
• Notice when you feel jealous, resentful, superior or excluded. Then notice what you tend to do about your feelings. Calm or heal your painful feelings. Choose wisely your behaviours.

Antidote to Negative Gossip: Respectful Communication

1. Pay attention. Clue into those who judge, blame, and delight in other people’s errors and problems. Avoid those people.
2. Avoid telling those same people personal information to avoid becoming a gossip target.
3. Discover who can keep confidential and private information and who is the organizational blabbermouth
4. When you hear something about others, tell yourself, “I’m hearing one side of a story.”
5. When you hear negative gossip about someone and you know it is untrue, say, “Interesting. That’s not my experience.”
6. Decide if you have the confidence to say, “What you’re saying sounds negative and gossipy. I feel uncomfortable participating.”
7. When you hear negative rumors don’t pass them on!
8. Rumors are rumors.  Take them as such.  Remember the telegraph game we played as kids?  A sentence is whispered into one person’s ear and is then passed from ear to another ear around a circle.  Something like, “The pussy cat caught a mouse,” can end up being, “Her parents cant’ afford a house.”
9. If the negative gossip is about you, consider the advantages and disadvantages of confronting the key gossiper.
10. If you address the person spreading the rumor and he or she retorts, “But I didn’t say anything like that,” merely, respond with, “Great, I’m glad to hear that.”
11. Announce loud and clear your accomplishments, successes and your commitment to integrity. You want this kind of rumor passed on.
12. Model practicing the fine art of Positive Gossip.  You will gain a reputation of being an excellent net-worker.

In the end enjoy better communication skills by monitoring your gossip.

Please check out these related posts:

1. Habits for a Positive Focus on What’s Right with You
2. Women Dealing with Conflict in the Workplace