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If you encounter gossiping that focuses on another employee, end it by enlisting help from the gossipers themselves. Confront them and let them know that it’s impolite to gossip. Then, encourage them to help you silence the rumor mill. They’ll likely feel guilty and happily assist. Let’s say you overhear two coworkers whispering about your boss getting a cosmetic procedure. You might say, “I don’t know if that’s true or not, but I doubt she’ll be happy it’s going around…Why don’t you two help me stamp out those rumors? Honestly, they have nothing to do with our job, anyway.” Those who pass along damaging information are just as guilty as the person who started the rumor mill. Go to the culprits and discourage them from taking the rumor any further. For example, you might say something along the lines of, “If you wouldn’t say that in front of him, I don’t think you should be saying it behind his back.” In the midst of garden-variety conversations at work, you probably get multiple opportunities to shut down gossip. Start noticing these openings and use them to silence the rumor mill. Stand up for those who are being discussed. Try to steer the conversation away from gossipy topics. For instance, you’re talking to a coworker about Bill’s report and they say, “Yeah, I hear his wife asked for a divorce.” You might counter with, “Bill did a really good job with these numbers. What was your question again?”
Enlist those who gossip to help you stamp out rumors. Call out instigators. Become skilled at changing the subject.