How does the grapevine impact your workplace?

 

A 1997 survey discovered that 75% of employees hear about matters first via the rumour mill, that is grapevine.

And evidence indicates that about 75% of what moves along the vine is accurate.

So what gets the rumour mill moving?

Evidently rumours emerge as a response to situations that are important to us, when there is ambiguity & under conditions that arouse anxiety.

So what to do?

Experts offer this helpful advice for leaders & managers …

1. Announce timetables for important decisions

2. Explain decisions or actions that appear inconsistent

3. Emphasis downside as well as upside of major decisions

4. Discuss worst case scenarios – they rarely provoke as much anxiety as a rumour filled fantasy