James Hussey works in a successful family business by day, and moonlights three different ways: he web-publishes on his pet blogs, freelance writes on Elance as “JamestheJust,” and does his own article marketing campaigns. His blogs now include Dog Pet Stores, where you’ll find user-friendly information on various dog care products, such as dog meds online and fancy dog beds. There are links to dog training and plenty of resources to make your dog a happy mutt.
Gossip in the Workplace? Why Gossip May Be the Best Thing For You
Gossip in the workplace can be the most depressing and hostile work environments to deal with. So how do you hang up the wagging tongues?
Face it: we live on the same planet. There’s a blackhole in nearly everyone’s heart that wants to suck the motivation, the pep-in-your-step, the life right out of you. Since you know gossip in the workplace happens, what are people saying about you? You might not care if it’s all bad press, and full of bologna–but rather than apathy, become a “gossip Judo Master” and use it for your strength!
Remember Bonnie Raitt’s song, Something to Talk About? Using that same song, with the same idea–giving “them” something to talk about, but taking a whole different direction–is what I’m suggesting. Since it’s a given that tongues will wag quicker than a dog’s on a road trip, then give them something to talk about.
Remember the blue fish in Disney’s Finding Nemo, Dory? She was played by Ellen Degeneres, who had a classic line, “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming…” That’s the first part of this new-you mindset. You know it’s a national pastime to gossip. Gossip in the workplace especially is an industry at this point, but you must swim against the negative current. I work in a family business by day that’s centered around customer service. Without customer service, I wouldn’t have had 3 or more square meals a day for the past 2.5 years.
I personally love giving and receiving great customer service. I also find that I’m a rare breed. Many people I work around (the vendors, not the family members) have this sense of “Us vs. Them”–with “Them” being our customers! Instead of getting involved with the gossip, I’ve been spending time re-inventing myself. I don’t want to swim downstream with these fish. It’s murky down there.
I have a better idea: I’m working on being the most optimistic, customer-oriented, positive person in the “office,” and I’m sure that tongues are wagging. This time around, they don’t have the ammo to complain about my performance. I swim with the Salmon: upstream. The weird thing is, now I’m greeted with a much better reception at work now that I don’t join in the great black hole of gossip and negative attitudes gone wild. It’s funny how easier it seems to get along with everyone when you know the problem just isn’t you…
Whatever negativity you see, whatever brings you down at work or home–don’t participate. Give ‘em something to talk about, and let it be how you’re the one bright-red apple in a barrel full of Granny Smiths. When it comes to beating gossip in the workplace, give them something to talk about.
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