While grapevine gossip is a great source of informal information and keeps the employees entertained, it also creates a lot of confusion and uncertainty in the workplace. Here are some tips to control the office grapevine and kill controversies.
Ways to Curb The Gossip Grapevine At Work
- Don’t ignore it
‘Grapevine’ in an office is a weed. They can reduce productivity, tarnish an employee’s image, and can also interfere in organizational communications. Ignoring rumors and staying quiet can prove to be costly in a long run. Leaders shall keep a check on the communication that is traveling throughout the company. - Communicate and Communicate some more
Improper communication or no communication can lead to unwanted controversies thus understand the need for communication and keep updating your employees about every detail they deserve to know because that is going to stop them from assuming things and then grapevine! - Lose that image
If your employees are hesitant to tell their problems to the management, then it can actually lead to a larger problem of gossips building. An open culture where the employees are heard and valued is very important to fight the grapevine. - Delegate their responsibilities
Employees are more likely to engage in gossip when they have plenty of time to spare. This might happen at the coffee machine, during lunch breaks, and during smoking hours. But you cannot take their rest hours away! Keep them busy, delegate their responsibilities and engage them in the gossips of work.
