CEUs: 0.60     

Related Topics (Management Development/Supervisory):

• Basic Supervisory Skills
• Breaking The Birthday Code©: How to Build Strong Multi-Generational Teams in Today's Diverse Workplace
• Motivating and Retaining Employees
• Peer to Boss without the Fallout
• SUPERVISOR'S ACADEMY
• Coaching and Evaluating Performance
• Discipline & Corrective Action
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Managing Employee "Attitude" Problems
• Performance Management
• Selection Interviewing: Hiring the Right One the First Time
• Is Supervision in Your Future?
• Breaking the Birthday Code

A certain amount of gossip is human nature but if it goes unchecked it can cause serious damage to productivity, morale, teamwork, and trust.  Malicious gossip—referred to by some as “hidden violence”—can even be grounds for lawsuits.

Length:  One 8-hour session

Instructor:  Welch-McGrath

Who should attend: Managers, supervisors, and team leads concerned with productivity and morale issues caused by workplace gossip.

Benefits:

• A healthier work environment.

• Higher morale and productivity.

• Reduced turnover.

• Lowered litigation risk.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this program, you will be able to:

• Differentiate between “harmless” gossip and malicious or destructive gossip.

• List the underlying factors that allow malicious gossip to gain a foothold in the workplace.

• List the toxic impacts gossip has on individuals and the work environment.

• Resist becoming part of the gossip mill.

• Confront people who gossip in a positive manner.

• Build a gossip-resistant workplace.

Program Outline:

I.     What is gossip?

     A.   Definition

     B.   Personal assessment

II.    Toxic results

     A.   Company

     B.   Team

     C.   Individual

III.  Reasons people gossip

IV.  Patterns of gossip

     A.   How does it spread?

     B.   Is it ever good?

V.   Methods for resolving gossip

     A.   Confronting

     B.   Mutual respect model

     C.   Trust cycle

     D.   Guidelines for office behavior

VI.  Handling the fallout of gossip

     A.   Diffusing emotions

     B.   Rebuilding relationships.  

     C.   Enhancing self-esteem (yours/others)

VII.Action plan

          1.        Developing ground rules

          2.        Individual contracting

          3.        Guidelines for individual/organizational behavior