Why Workplace Gossip Hurts Your Career
Do you have a lot of mean-spirited workplace gossip? Well, if you have one of these, you probably do. In this video, we're going to talk about how nasty workplace gossip can be. But I'm going to give you four easy strategies that are going to help you get past it. Once you learn how to avoid that office gossip, the next step is for you to focus on you, your job, and being more productive.
Stay tuned to the end of this video because I have a real cool download for you that's going to help you do just that.
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Hi, I'm Adriana Girdler, a productivity expert, and I have over 20 plus years in the biz. That being said, over the years, I have come across tons of office politics. And I'm going to share with you my key four strategies that I have used over the years to get away from that rumor mill and keep my reputation up.
Four Strategies to Escape the Office Gossip Trap
Strategy 1: Deflect Negative Gossip
So if someone gives you some real negative gossip, turn it around by saying something positive.
Example:
"Hey, did you see Jim? He drank a lot at that office function."
What you can say is:
"Yeah, there was a lot of alcohol there, but it was such a good time. Did you see overall what else happened?"
Then you can fill in the gaps.
Don’t focus on the person and don’t focus on the negativity.
Strategy 2: Avoid the Gossipers
Okay, you're not five. I'm not five, so I can't walk around an office doing that. Although it would be kind of fun. That being said, try to avoid the gossipers. If someone’s coming your way, and you can take a corner and go in an opposite direction — do it.
Because you know what?
Office gossipers tend to be like a fruit fly. They just see it and hang on. So, don’t get in the way. Don’t hang out with them. Avoid them whenever possible.
💬 Have you ever gossiped about a coworker and then regretted it? We all have. Tell me your story in the comments below about how you turned it around.
Strategy 3: Don't Vent in the Wrong Places
Don’t vent.That’s how people get in trouble with office gossip — the venting part of it.
So really, pick your friends wisely. You do need to vent a little bit, especially when you're stressed and trying to deal with situations. Sometimes letting off a little steam can help. But it’s who you vent to that matters. I always say: Put it in the vault. Better yet, put it with someone you trust, like a family member or friend outside your organization. The problem is: it's a small world, and things do come back. And then what? So:
✅ Do not vent.
✅ Do not spread the news.
Strategy 4: Don’t Spread the News
So you’ve been doing your best to avoid office gossip — good for you.
Now, sometimes you just can’t avoid it. The next best step? Don’t spread the news. Zip your lip. Keep quiet. Leave it at that.
Now that you've mastered how to avoid the office gossip, it's time to shift your focus—back to your work.
I have a real cool download for you. 21 tips on how to get s*** done at work and to do it well. All the cool things that you need to really up your professional game like meeting facilitation, time management, organization, strategy, a whole bunch of cool stuff. You can grab this by going to the link below. Please subscribe to this video, give it a thumbs up, and share it with all the new professionals that you know. If you like this video, please write in the comment below, have you heard? I would love to hear from you. Until the next video, bye.
Source: Adriana Girdler. (2019, February 27). Workplace Gossip (Rules to Avoid Office Gossip) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWDPCR-G4IU