by Kathryn Avison

Created on: November 10, 2008   Last Updated: December 08, 2008

A-Ha. The good old office grapevine, home of the gossip trap, and should you allow yourself to become tangled up within its sticky fingers? Every office, large or small has one, a gossip trail, inevitably leading to a gossip trap. All it takes is one person to start the gossip monster running around the office and believe me, this type of monster doesn't mind whom he catches along the way.

The gossip trap.

You may not realise you are ensnared within its iron jaws until it bites. An innocent comment or a whispered word in a collegues ear can be all it takes for the gossip to circulate and inevitably come flowing back to you with a vengence. However, our aim is to avoid this mishap before it actually happens and before the gossip monster points its stubby little finger at you. Who me?

How to identify a potential gossip :

Type 1

He or she may be lingering around the coffee machine, ears at the ready, gossip radar in position. He/she has usually been quite cold in greeting or has even denied your very existance until that day, the day they think you know something interesting, something they don't. Their sudden undivided attention may be flattering but beware of their sticky honey pot of compliments. Their only aim is to extract information from you to use for their benefit. In other words, they want your gossip and they want it now.

Type 2

Now this is the hard one, type 2 is the good old fashioned work collegue, the one who you even consider as a 'work friend'. They appear harmless enough, however, they know far too much about you and everyone else for that matter. Surely you have seen them whispering with whats-her-name over lunch. Being everyones friend is a benefit to them only, so they can gossip to their daily delight but never seem to take the blame for it. After all, how could you blame them? Yes I'll have another coffee please. Beware!

Type 3

Easier to spot, or possibly hear. They can usually be distinguished by the undeniably loud,monotonous tone of voice, and their chosen subject : gossip. Who's dating who, who's popular, why did so and so get the promotion? They don't care who's listening and being the loud, jovial, person that they are, they are usually taken with a pinch of salt, or are simply too daunting to confront. After all, you know if you did say anything to them it would soon be broadcast further than the news channel.

How to deal with Types 1 , 2 and 3

Neutral. Neutral in thought, neutral in mind. Neutral is the word. Remaining neutral takes practice,

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