The grapevine in my workplace is really a problem.  It’s filled with gossip, rumors, and half-truths and I know some people have left because they didn’t feel they could recover from the damage it caused them.  While I’ve never been its victim, I feel bad for others who have and know that it’s making it difficult for some people to work together.  Is there anything I can do?

Workplaces are fertile grounds for grapevines.  Workplace grapevines generate negativity and sap people’s energy.  They reduce productivity, damage relationships, and often make coming to work difficult for many people.  But you don’t have to just sit back and let the grapevine take over.  Use positive behaviors to help eradicate this invasive pest.

Use your power to root out the grapevine.  The workplace grapevine can only stay alive if people keep feeding it.  Each time you refuse to repeat a rumor or participate in workplace politics, you reclaim some of your power and reduce the grapevine’s effectiveness.  Recruit like-minded people to do the same.

Decline to listen.  Listening validates the worth of a message and may, intentional or not, communicate that you agree with the rumors, disparaging remarks, or criticism of the targeted individual.  If a co-worker starts repeating someone else’s complaints, cut them off by respectfully pointing out that passing along those complaints will only fuel the fire and won’t solve the problem.

Be persistent.  When someone tries to pull you in, remind them that you are choosing not to participate in negative conversations about others.  Spread the word that you see the grapevine as destructive and that you will be actively working to get rid of it.  Then back up your words with appropriate actions.

Be careful about venting.  Don’t feed the grapevine by venting about co-workers to co-workers.  Instead, take your concerns about a co-worker directly to that person and address them together. When you do need to vent - and we all do now and then - it’s important that you vent appropriately with someone who can give you objective feedback, help you clarify your concerns, and identify the role you play in the situation.  Encourage others to do the same.

Grapevines produce wonderful fruit that can be turned into fine wine; the office grapevine only produces sour grapes that ferment into a lot of whine, whine, whine.

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