Even though office gossip is generally frowned upon, many studies show that gossip in organizations is not only inevitable, but can even be a positive communication tool. However, by gossiping in the wrong way, employees can easily lose the trust of their colleagues and be perceived negatively very quickly.
Research shows that people who claim to never gossip tend to be considered as socially inept, but those that are constantly gabbing at the coffee machine are quickly seen as untrustworthy. There is an optimal amount of time one should gossip — somewhere in the middle — which we call the sweet spot of gossip. However, it’s not only the amount of time one spends gossiping that will make or break an employee or manager. Other factors such as credibility, what we gossip about, whom we gossip with, culture, and place, all play an equally crucial role in the art of gossiping successfully at work. Finding the right balance for all of these factors is of the essence.
“I love this book! Illuminating on why you must be in the know at work and how you can do it respectfully and with integrity.” — Dr. Lois Frankel, author of the New York Times bestselling book 'Nice Girls Still Don't Get the Corner Office'
“Valuable insights in an inevitable and valuable aspect of human interaction: gossip. There are great lessons for both the office and Zoom sessions.” — Jonah Berger, Wharton professor and author of the bestselling books Contagious, Invisible Influence and The Catalyst
“You haven’t got this from me — but this is a scandalously good book! Ok, she cuts corners, but with a quick wit, a sharp pen, and a strong base in both literature and anecdote, who cares?” — Gert Jan Hofstede, Prof. Dr. Ir. Artificial Sociality at Wageningen University and extraordinary professor at North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa, and co-author of the international bestsellers 'Cultures and Organizations' and 'Exploring Culture'
“In this highly readable book, Dominique Darmon has made very clear that there are human behaviors that transcend cultures. Gossiping is a good example of this. While various cultures gossip in different ways, it will remain an important and meaningful activity for humankind. Recommended!” — Fons Trompenaars, speaker, consultant, researcher, author of 'Riding the Waves of Culture', and co-author of 'End of Discussion'
