Pulse January / February 2016 | Page 51

et the tone right for the rest of the year by committing to a dramafree workplace and learning the management skill sets needed to handle office politics and gossip. Whether one admits it or not, office politics and workplace gossip is a fact of life in any organization. Anytime we work with others, there’s always the possibility that BY conflict and workplace drama may arise. The ANDREW challenge for any good leader is to create work DEWSON environments that do not allow counter-productive practices, like gossiping or playing office politics, to flourish and become part of the daily work culture. But how exactly do you do this? Start by being honest, transparent and keeping an open line of communication with staff members. Often, office gossip occurs because team members are kept in the dark about important work issues that may impact them, leaving them feeling the need to fill the void with unfounded speculations. Good leaders set good example. In order to create a gossip-free zone, make sure that you treat everyone fairly. Playing favorites could easily be a source of frustration among staff members, leaving them more likely to create conflict. January/February 2016 ■ PULSE 49