Psst. Have you heard the Feedback?
I was working with a team recently, and the topic of gossip came up as a barrier to them being the best team they can be. We discussed the definition. Of course, when I think of ‘gossip’, I immediately think of Moira Rose’s iconic quote regarding gossip from Schitt's Creek:
"Gossip is the devil's telephone. Best to just hang up".
She famously delivers this line, often while wearing an elaborate wig, usually immediately after engaging in gossip herself. As a leader, you probably want less gossip in your team. Trying to reduce the amount of gossip without looking at the culture underneath won’t help.
Research shows that 96% of people gossip at work. Amy Gallo defines gossip as, 'Two people speaking about a third person who is not present’, while Robin Dunbar distinguishes between harmless gossip and harmful gossip. That matters because not every side conversation is malicious. When people regularly talk about someone instead of to them, trust can start to erode.
Dunbar makes an important point: if you want less gossip in your team, a feedback-rich culture is needed.
Are your team members supported to have direct, respectful conversations?
Are you, as a leader, role-modelling feedback that is clear, kind, and safe?
Harmful gossip often grows in the gaps. When expectations are unclear, feedback feels risky, and people do not know how to speak directly with each other.
That is why Feedback Fitness is so important to your team culture.
A Feedback Fit culture helps your team build the confidence and skill to have honest conversations earlier. It reduces the need for side conversations and creates more trust across your team.
One simple leadership question can shift everything:
Have you told them?
Or, as Dunbar suggests: Have you talked directly to the third person?
I believe that when feedback is missing, gossip often fills the space between people, and that space, in my opinion, is where your team culture sits.
If you’re ready to become Feedback Fit, Book a 30-minute complimentary discussion with Sue and discover how to create a feedback-rich culture that keeps your best people growing and thriving.
P.S. Forward this to a leader who could benefit from this weekly update. It’s an easy way to support their leadership growth and help more teams become Feedback Fit.
