Wait a minute! Gossip is normal?

Throughout early childhood and beyond, we’re told not to talk about anyone behind their back.

That’s gossip and gossip is bad.

But, is all gossip bad?

According to some experts, including those at the Harvard Business Review, gossip is an integral part of life itself, not just the office culture.

“We learn who we are through what people say to us and about us,” says Kathleen Reardon, Professor of Management at the University of Southern California. “We want to connect to people.”
“Research shows that everyone participates in all kinds of gossip — positive, neutral, and negative,” says Joe LaBianca, Associate Professor of Management at the University of Kentucky. Idle talk also provides information that can be useful to your career and work.

Linda Hill agrees. “Gossip happens all the time, so you’re going to hear it,” says the Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. Listening to office banter is a relevant way of hearing what is transpiring within the company. Informal exchanges of information can be just as useful as formal ones.

Because some gossip is negative, it is crucial to differentiate between the harmful and useful.

Negative judgements about someone’s family or personal life cross the line. To say John is going on vacation is probably not a secret. But to imply that John is wasting money on another expensive vacation — that’s the worst kind of gossip. That sort of gossip reflects badly, not just on John, but the gossiper as well.

Similarly, gossip about company personnel matters or other confidential information puts the company and the gossiper at risk.

Talking about shared interests and people is natural, but temper your comments with prudence and charity. Remember the person receiving that information is going to use it to evaluate your character.