November 9, 2009 – The Economic Times – Mumbai, India

This week, let’s take on a biggie-gossip in the workplace. It may sound like a harmless, unavoidable by-product of corporate life, but don’t be fooled: Left unchecked, gossip can wreak havoc on company morale and efficiency. When The Handel Group is hired to determine what isn’t working in an organization, we always need to address the gossip issue.

To be clear, when I say workplace gossip, I don’t mean who had drinks with whom last night. I’m referring to talk between co-workers, managers, and executives about work-related matters to someone who can’t do anything about it. This kind of complaining is a way of not dealing with something head-on, or as I call it, being a chicken.

That’s why smart companies have a zero-tolerance policy toward gossip.

I know that sounds extreme, but I have seen the difference it makes when companies are smart enough to take such a stand. When I coach leaders and their teams, they realize the toxic effect gossip has on themselves, their coworkers, and the organization as a whole. When they stop, it means that the team has taken on being forthright and honest in its communication, dealing head-on with an issue through the person who can do something about it. This allows for teamwork, trust, communication, and therefore extraordinary results.

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