You’re trying to get projects completed, orders out the door, and milestones achieved. Yet, when gossip is taking over, it can be hard for your team to stay focused. Not only that, but as one of the leading staffing agencies in Dade County, Future Force knows it can have a negative impact on morale and productivity.
Whether it’s simply a problem with one or two employees engaging in it, or a staff-wide issue, here are some tips for dealing with it before it escalates further.
Discuss it privately.
If the issue is just with one or two employees, talk to them privately. Explain the situation, the impact it’s having and what you’d like to see happen. Give them an opportunity to tell you their side of the story, so they don’t feel attacked and targeted. But whatever you do, don’t ignore it. This will simply give it a chance to take root and grow.
Talk about it publicly.
If your entire team is guilty and it’s becoming a problem across the board, then bring it up at the next meeting. Talk about the concerns you have and about how gossip creates a toxic environment where employees are losing focus. Also, communicate how important it is to bring problems up with you or with the specific co-workers involved, rather than sitting around gossiping about the issue.
Set the tone.
If you’ve been guilty of gossiping around the office yourself, then you need to instead model the behavior you want to see. Employees will shake their heads if you’re a common perpetrator, while telling them not to gossip. So “walk the talk” and avoid gossip at all costs. Instruct employees to come to you privately with issues, rather than engage in workplace gossip.
Gossip might not sound like a big deal on your team. But conflict often arises out of it – causing damage to relationships and productivity in the process. That’s why it’s so important to deal with it immediately and create a culture of openness and respect.
For more tips on casting out negativity on your staff – and building a strong, healthy team – read this post. And if you need help hiring for your small team or large company, call in the experts at Provisional. As one of the leading staffing agencies in Dade County, we’ve helped thousands of clients find qualified and reliable talent on a short-term, seasonal, and full-time basis. And we can help you too!