Dealing constructively with gossip in the workplace course

Gossip in the workplace is a sensitive subject. Everyone joins in from time to time and often it is harmless. But when conversations about colleagues become consistently negative, problems arise. People feel excluded, the atmosphere deteriorates and the work suffers. As a manager, HR officer or confidential adviser you want to spot this and address it before it gets out of hand. In this course you learn how to do so in a respectful and effective way.

Description

Gossip can serve an innocent purpose. Colleagues get to know each other's ideas better and relationships become clearer. But when conversations about a third person are consistently negative in tone, that innocence disappears. Gossip then becomes a means of manipulating, isolating people or playing colleagues off against each other. The result: a disrupted working atmosphere, falling productivity and staff who feel unsafe.

In this course you learn to make an analysis of your own team. You recognise patterns, identify key figures and know how to address them constructively. You gain insight into your own pitfalls and learn how to set boundaries without damaging the relationship. You also work on encouraging desirable behaviour and on lasting cultural change within your team or organisation.

Alongside the theory, there is plenty of room for practice. Using role plays and case studies, you work in a safe environment on situations you encounter in your own practice.

Topics

• The function of gossip: when is it harmless and when is it not?
• The consequences of gossip for employees, teams and the organisation
• Identifying and analysing negative gossip within your team
• Recognising key figures and approaching them effectively
• Taking corrective action and setting boundaries for undesirable behaviour
• Pitfalls for managers, HR staff and confidential advisers
• Encouraging desired behaviour within the team
• Setting cultural change in motion
• Dealing with resistance and emotions during change
• The techniques of naming, acknowledging, questioning, going along with and reframing
• Working towards a safe and respectful working atmosphere
• Practising with realistic cases and role plays

Result

After this course you will have insight into the causes and consequences of gossip in the workplace. You can recognise negative ways of interacting and turn them into positive ones. You know how to address key figures in your team and how to set boundaries in a respectful way. You have concrete tools for working on a culture change within your team or organisation and you know how to deal with resistance among staff. You go home with an approach you can put into practice straight away.

Target audience

This course is suitable for anyone whose role brings them into contact with gossip in the workplace. Think of team leaders, managers, HR staff and confidential advisers who want to improve the working atmosphere in their team. Teams that want to work together on their mutual communication and culture are also welcome. Whether you have only just started managing people or already have years of experience: you learn tools to deal better with this difficult dynamic.

Teaching method

The course is practical and interactive. Theory alternates with exercises, role plays and case studies from your own working practice. In a safe and respectful atmosphere, you experiment with new knowledge and skills. The group is deliberately kept small, so that you receive plenty of personal attention and can practise a great deal. Beforehand there is room for an intake, so that the content matches your situation. Your trainer gives immediate feedback and helps you translate the insights into concrete actions in your own workplace.

Prior knowledge

You do not need any specific prior knowledge for this course. It does help if your work involves a team or addressing people about their behaviour. Some work experience and familiarity with the issues make it easier to apply the material directly in your own practice.

In-company

Would you like to organise this training for a whole group or several groups? This can be cost-effective. For example, we can tailor the content entirely to your organisation, and training a whole group is also cheaper.

Are you looking at large numbers of participants or a complete academy? That involves a great deal. Consider planning and communication, for example, or identifying and agreeing the objectives and content of the training. Or differences in level, feedback mechanisms and safeguarding. Fortunately, Learnit has extensive experience in this field (more than 25 years) and we are happy to help you through this process.

Request a quote

Language

The training is given in Dutch as standard. The trainer has a good command of English. English-language course material can be used. With a minimum enrolment of 3 participants, the training can also be given entirely in English.