Till neglect do us part
'I heard it on the grapevine'. If the grapevine was important enough for Marvin Gaye to sing about, I think it's a valid enough subject for my random musings!
Besides providing one of the yummiest fruits ever, that grapevine is also responsible for some not so palatable stuff as well. So what do you do with the fruit of the grapevine (no, not grapes)?
I know organizations dread water cooler chats & the resulting grist for the rumor mill. But maybe it's time to stop and think about the problem instead of just addressing the symptom by discouraging said chats.
In order to remain healthy and stay alive, any relationship, personal or professional, needs trust. Which in turn is built on credible communication. When the communication arteries get clogged, for whatever reason, the result is always a reduction in the health of the relationship.
The sad thing is, the reasons are always justifiable in the minds of those who are clogging it up - ignorance is bliss; what they don't know won't hurt them; this is not the right time for them to find out- add in the ones you have heard or thought of!
A friend suggested I write about this topic, as he's currently going through a situation at work where they are being kept in the dark about the changes their company's undergoing, while being slapped on the wrist for listening to the grapevine. "what is the right response to what goes around on the grapevine in an organization?" was his exact question.
Well, I can only offer my humble opinion, which is, the grapevine has a prosperous crop only when fed the fertilizer of no official communication. People need to feel in control. They need to feel they are aware of what's happening around them and to them. In the absence of sufficient information which gives them this sense of security, they will turn to anyone who appears to know anything. The rumor mill goes into overdrive and the most fantastic results pop out!
To fix the root of the problem, I would actually keep my ear tuned to the grapevine, so I have my finger on the pulse of the majority of the company. When something is repeated often enough, it becomes the truth and this is how rumours begin to spread with so much credibility.
If people are spending a lot of time at the water cooler or in corridors, maybe it's time to do a quick comms check - are we putting out enough info to negate the need for this unofficial source of information? When the resounding NO sounds, sort through the rumours that are doing the rounds. You will quickly identify the key areas of concern. Make them your priority in your comms plan.
People have short term memories when it comes to these situations. Give them enough to allay their fears and to show that you value them and their peace of mind, and you'll have them back. Not just at their desks and work, but on your side again. And the health of the relationship will be back to a 100%.
All it needs to keep it there are attention and action. Neglect is a slow-eating acid that takes a long time to dissolve something strong. Keep your eyes peeled for the signs of acid erosion and you can always, always, still fix it.
Besides providing one of the yummiest fruits ever, that grapevine is also responsible for some not so palatable stuff as well. So what do you do with the fruit of the grapevine (no, not grapes)?
I know organizations dread water cooler chats & the resulting grist for the rumor mill. But maybe it's time to stop and think about the problem instead of just addressing the symptom by discouraging said chats.
In order to remain healthy and stay alive, any relationship, personal or professional, needs trust. Which in turn is built on credible communication. When the communication arteries get clogged, for whatever reason, the result is always a reduction in the health of the relationship.
The sad thing is, the reasons are always justifiable in the minds of those who are clogging it up - ignorance is bliss; what they don't know won't hurt them; this is not the right time for them to find out- add in the ones you have heard or thought of!
A friend suggested I write about this topic, as he's currently going through a situation at work where they are being kept in the dark about the changes their company's undergoing, while being slapped on the wrist for listening to the grapevine. "what is the right response to what goes around on the grapevine in an organization?" was his exact question.
Well, I can only offer my humble opinion, which is, the grapevine has a prosperous crop only when fed the fertilizer of no official communication. People need to feel in control. They need to feel they are aware of what's happening around them and to them. In the absence of sufficient information which gives them this sense of security, they will turn to anyone who appears to know anything. The rumor mill goes into overdrive and the most fantastic results pop out!
To fix the root of the problem, I would actually keep my ear tuned to the grapevine, so I have my finger on the pulse of the majority of the company. When something is repeated often enough, it becomes the truth and this is how rumours begin to spread with so much credibility.
If people are spending a lot of time at the water cooler or in corridors, maybe it's time to do a quick comms check - are we putting out enough info to negate the need for this unofficial source of information? When the resounding NO sounds, sort through the rumours that are doing the rounds. You will quickly identify the key areas of concern. Make them your priority in your comms plan.
People have short term memories when it comes to these situations. Give them enough to allay their fears and to show that you value them and their peace of mind, and you'll have them back. Not just at their desks and work, but on your side again. And the health of the relationship will be back to a 100%.
All it needs to keep it there are attention and action. Neglect is a slow-eating acid that takes a long time to dissolve something strong. Keep your eyes peeled for the signs of acid erosion and you can always, always, still fix it.
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