by Ginger Kazay

Created on: February 19, 2009

There are many different reasons why people gossip in the workplace; but, they all boil down to one word: NEED. Gossiping in the workplace helps people satisfy unmet needs and as long as those needs continue to be unmet the gossip will continue.

While some gossip is malicioius and harmful; not all gossip is bad. Gossip can actually be used to bring a work group together if it is properly utilized. That is why management needs to gain a level of control over the gossip that is going on in the workplace.

Management needs to recognize the needs that are being met through gossip and take control of the situation. Malicious gossip does need to be "squashed" before it becomes harmful. Many times this can be done by either recognizing the need of the person spreading the gossip in a different way or by threatening a different more important need - job security. Beneficial gossip can be used to bring workers closer together and make them more productive.

In order to control workplace gossip, you need to recognize the different needs that are satisfied though gossiping.

1) Need to feel superior. This is the gossip who always is pointing out the flaws in other people and if there is no flaw; this person will make them up. This gossip needs to be "squashed". People who initiate and spread this type of gossip need to be informed that this type of gossip will not be tolerated because it creates a hostile working environment. You can help this person meet their need to feel superior by recognizing something they do well. An inexpensive "certificate of achievement" helps defuse these people because they actually have something they can point to and show off that "proves" they really are superior.

2) Need for respect. These gossipers have a need to be the ones that people go to to find out what is going on. They need to feel they are the "experts" and "go to" people for the group. These people are great for management to use when management wants gossip spread. Just let a few things "slip" when this person is around and soon everyone will know what is happening without any thing "official" being said.

3) Need to belong. Most people want to be part of a group and being able to contribute to the gossip mill helps them to belong and fit in. These people are usually harmless; unless the gossip they are contributing to is of a maliscious nature. They usually to not start gossip; but, they do add to it and help "flesh it out" with their own observations. Being part of the group is important

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>