Stop Badmouthing & Gossip
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Badmouthing and gossiping about others is no bueno.
Would love to see all companies and every person adopt a zero tolerance policy for this.
Put simply: gossip and badmouthing sucks. It's legit bad behavior. It ruins teams, relationships, culture, morale, and makes you look bad when you participate in it.
Yes, badmouthing others can be a quick way to bond with people. Also, it’s a crappy, unhealthy way to connect with others. Sharing gossip and rumors is also a cruel, mean thing to do, and bad for your reputation.
A reflection on gossiping:
“If the person you are talking about were to overhear what you were about to say, or they walked in halfway through, would you become embarrassed and/or stop talking about them?”
The next time that you are inclined to badmouth or share a rumor, etc. about someone, ask yourself this: If the person you are talking about were to overhear what you were about to say, or they walked in halfway through, would you become embarrassed and/or stop talking about them?
If the answer to those questions is yes, then just choose not to say it, period. Make the choice to adopt this in your life.
If this has historically been a way for you to connect and bond with others then it’s a really hard habit to kick — but you’ll be a better person for it, and you’ll stir up less drama, negativity, and hurt feelings as a result.
Final thoughts
It’s inevitable that throughout your life and career you will work with people that you don’t necessarily vibe with, or that you don’t really like at all. But understand that when the time comes where you could speak badly about them or pass along a rumor, or paint them in a negative light to someone else, it is a choice for you to decide in that moment simply not to do it.
Level up your own integrity and reputation by choosing to be someone who just doesn’t participate in that kind of behavior at work, in life, anywhere. Even when it’s hard, even when you think they “deserve” it. Treat others as a reflection of who you are, not who they are. Make a more awesome choice.
Related Blogs:
Three Ways To Remove Gossip From Your Life
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This article was created by Galen Emanuele for the #culturedrop. Free leadership and team culture content in less than 5 minutes a week. Check out the rest of this month's content and subscribe to the Culture Drop at https://bit.ly/culturedrop
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