{"id":6463,"date":"2022-09-18T05:44:41","date_gmt":"2022-09-18T05:44:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/workwiseasia.com\/?p=6463"},"modified":"2022-09-18T05:44:43","modified_gmt":"2022-09-18T05:44:43","slug":"how-do-we-deal-with-gossip-in-the-workplace-breaktime-breakthroughs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/workwiseasia.com\/?p=6463","title":{"rendered":"How do we deal with gossip in the workplace? – Breaktime Breakthroughs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n

People in general like to gossip. From the latest celebrity dating news to the lives of politicians, a lot of people have the urge to sip the so-called \u201ctea\u201d and talk about the lives of other people. But we don\u2019t just encounter \u201cMariteses\u201d <\/em>and \u201cMarisols\u201d <\/em>in our neighborhoods, because they can also be present in our workplaces. Sometimes, we even become one without knowing it!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Workplace gossip can be cathartic and can be used to bond with our co-workers over coffee breaks and lunchtime.However, gossip can also harm our productivity, reputation, relationships, and career. They are usually the root of arguments or misunderstandings in the office. While it\u2019s nice to be in the know with the latest in the office, the thing about gossip is that we ourselves can be the topic of workplace gossip the next day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, in an episode<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>of Breaktime Breakthroughs<\/strong><\/a> on Plus Network<\/strong>, <\/a>trainer, speaker, and content creator Doreen Cooper shared some tips on how we can stay away from gossip in the office.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Stick to Facts- <\/strong>Sharing ideas about a task or project during meetings is understandable. However, we need to be cautious about what opinions we share with our workmates, especially when these opinions are about other people. It\u2019s important to remember that whatever comes out of our mouths can spread in the office the next day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Don\u2019t Share Anything Confidential – <\/strong>When we already know that information can\u2019t be shared, we should just keep it to ourselves. So, if there\u2019s news that we\u2019re the source of that information, we can stand firm that our conscience is clear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. When Someone Asks for Your Opinion, Redirect the Question to them <\/strong>– We can ask questions like \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d Or \u201cWhat do you think?\u201d  to our coworker. This is so we can refrain from contributing to gossip. But if our coworker is persistent to get something from us, we can offer a solution or steer the conversation toward a safe or work-related topic. Instead of gossiping, we can just use our energy and time to do our best at work.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With these tips, avoiding workplace gossip will be a piece of cake! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more tips for professionals in the workplace, watch more episodes of Breaktime Breakthroughs<\/strong><\/a> on PLUS Network<\/strong><\/a> or follow WorkWise Asia on Facebook<\/strong>, <\/a>Instagram<\/strong>,<\/a> or visit our website<\/strong>.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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