Your Shot of Fearless Culture #345: Gossip Is Not that Bad
Where change agents find their weekly dose of culture insights and exercises, one topic at a time.
As a former CEO, I used to think that gossip was toxic – a habit that I had to eradicate.
But time proved me wrong.
The more I tried to silence gossip, the more pervasive it became.
I realized gossip is a natural, informal way of communication.
It's a tool as old as human society – it was never meant to be a negative habit.
Instead of treating gossip as a problem to fix, treat it as a signal:
👉 What is it saying about your culture?
Here's what I learned in recent years as a workplace culture consultant:
✅ Gossip helps navigate culture and identify trustworthy (and collaborative) colleagues
✅ Gossip increases belonging and wellbeing
✅ Gossip bridges the gap between 'official' communication and reality
❌ Attempting to silence under-the-radar conversations backfires
❌ Gossip can harm reputations and trust
✅ There are eight types of gossip – focus on the intent to distinguish good from bad
Gossip isn't just a people problem – it's a cultural phenomenon. What does it reveal about your organizational culture?
This week, learn more about the eight types of gossip and how to pay more attention to the signal. Explore the resources and activities below.
Stay fearless, my friend.
Gustavo
My Two Cents
My latest article → The Hidden Value of Workplace Gossip
From my archive → How to Turn Your Enemies into Collaborators
One Question to Ask Your Team
Reflect on the gossip you’ve been hearing. What does it say about our team culture?
One Thing to Try This Week
Use a “yes, and...” approach to explore the other side of gossip.
One colleague plays the gossiper role and shares a piece of gossip – whether positive, negative, or neutral. The other team members respond with "Yes, and..." to add missing context, offer alternative perspectives, or highlight other sides of the story.
Rotate roles and debrief. This exercise validates the gossip while encouraging people to see what they’re missing – the bigger picture.
🍦 Feed Your Curiosity
What is positive gossip? 7 examples
Defend your research: Gossiping is not unprofessional
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Gustavo Razzetti
CEO, Fearless Culture
well done and evolving with the times of life. Great stuff.