The six secret rules of office gossip
Most of us spend more time with our co-workers than our best friends, so it's no surprise office gossip is so prevalent. For added flavour, throw in after-work drinks with a heavy dash of alcohol, and you have the perfect ingredients for a well-oiled rumour mill.
But if you are interested in climbing the slippery pole of success, you can't let your loose lips talk you out of a promotion or even a job.
Whether you're the office know-it-all or the occasional eavesdropper, partaking in office gossip can be risky business.
So here are some gossip guidelines to help you avoid becoming a casualty of corporate chit-chat.
1 Don't Be A Blabber Mouth Discretion is king in the workplace for those who want to get ahead. A chosen few in the office will be respected enough to be privy to privileged information.
If you are a known gossip, your career, for all intents and purposes, could be over.
2 Don't Slag Off Superiors As a general rule, tempting as it may be, don't gossip about your boss or company executives.
If you do, it could end up being a case of biting the hand that feeds you, which is never, ever a good thing.
3 Being Positive Pays Don't become the office moaner. Keep chit-chat upbeat around the water cooler.
And remember, if you can't find anything nice to say ... well, slag off that bloke out of Jedward for falling off stage and nearly crippling himself.
4 Don't Gamble With Gossip Always assess the sensitivity of what you are chatting about. Don't discuss anything you wouldn't want your boss to read on the front cover of tomorrow's Irish Independent.
5 Set Solid Boundaries Provide your colleagues with limited access to your personal life to prevent it becoming office fodder.
Also, don't delve too deeply into matters that don't involve work with your co-workers, because you could live to regret it!
6 Don't Do A 'Twink' Talking about workplace issues with your colleagues can help reduce stress. But be careful!
Eurovision winner Linda Martin was shocked when she overheard Twink bitching about her with fellow cast members while touring with Menopause: The Musical.
Twink was soon replaced from the tour and now the former friends are no longer on working or speaking terms.
So, just make sure you avoid a having a 'Twink' moment of your very own.
Irish Independent
