Gossip: The Destroyer of Teams

Teams consist of a group of individuals. They can be found everywhere and in different forms. We have couples, friends, families, sport teams and workplace groups. What are special about teams? They serve a purpose of collaboration to accomplish a unified goal. The goals are specific to the groups. They may range in sharing love and support as in families or increasing productivity in the workplace. No matter which environment the climate of team cohesion can be destroyed by gossip.

Gossip is defined as talk or rumor of a personal or intimate nature of true or false information. I refer to gossip as the "Great Manipulator". It has maneuvered into many team scenarios and left them destroyed. Couples, friends, families, and workplace groups have been hindered by this great manipulator. It comes in many forms to accomplish destruction. Its purpose is to gain acceptance and destroy the credibility or character of another. Once this is done it has destroyed the possible harmony that could have taken place within the team.

How is this great manipulator able to penetrate so easy and quickly? In some cases it comes in the form of entertaining information about another person that is completely false or mixed with tainted half truths. It is easier for people to believe the colorful gossip and go along with the crowd than to seek out the truth and risk the possibility of being the next victim. It takes a strong independent character not to be manipulated by gossip. No matter what source is providing the information. The source can hold its own personal agenda of destruction.

Gossip has destroyed many relationships from work to family. Conversations among people at times are directed toward rumors heard around the work place coffee station. How to recognize the great manipulator will be explored in a follow up article.

Tags & Keywords : team building, teams, leadership, retreats, conflicts, harmony