For as long as there has been work, there has been work drama. Gossip around the water cooler, instant messages back and forth, whispers in the hallway. No matter how you spin it, we love to hear the latest story flying through the rumor mill. Careful though, participating in office drama about others can severely backfire on you.
In this post, we’re going to review the top 3 reasons why you must avoid the drama if you want to be successful in your career.
You Are at Work for a Reason
To be blunt: you are not being paid a salary to talk about what Becky from accounting said to Dave from marketing last week. You are at work to work. No matter how much free coffee is in the break room or how much fun the monthly team lunch is, you are at your company to accomplish a job in as little time as possible, with the highest quality work possible. While it’s just fine to have a good time and enjoy friendships with your co-workers, you were hired to add value to the company, not to talk about your colleagues.
Someone Else is Always Listening
When you insert yourself into work drama, or even just participate in the conversations, someone else is always silently watching and listening to you. They’re making assumptions about your character based on what you say and engage in. Do you really want to be attracting that kind of attention? Though it may seem fun to gossip, others are making judgements on your abilities to lead and stay away from office drama based on your reactions to the invitation. Now is the time to consider where you want to be in the next 1, 5, or even 10 years. Next time there’s an opportunity to discuss drama, think for a minute on who may be watching and how their observance may affect you later.
Teamwork Suffers
An efficient company is one where everyone is on the same page, knows their tasks, and can interact with one another in positive ways to increase productivity. Gossip and drama create conflict. As the saying goes, teamwork truly does make the dream work. When gossiping and causing drama, you’re only going to create friction which, in turn, takes focus away from working together and instead points out one another’s differences.
Where there are groups of people, there’s always going to be buzz about different dynamics. That’s just a fact of life. But choosing not to participate is a conscious decision that will absolutely profit you in the long run. Skip the stories, and you’ll reap the benefits for years to come.
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About Debi
Debi is a coach to high performers, leaders and business owners wanting to achieve more and grow beyond what they believe is possible. Known for her clarifying insight and a pragmatic approach, Debi brings her clients to the next step by asking the right questions during strategy development and supporting them during strategy implementation. With experience in management, recruitment and employee development for various industries, she has a wide scope of expertise and will confidently guide you towards a successful future in your career.
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