Friday, March 9, 2012

Close encounters in office

Offices are fertile grounds for rumours. They may range from casual leg-pulling to something serious that may subject you to stress and even a dip in performance.

Here are some tips to deal with them.

Confirm before taking action. Take some time before acting on it. You need to be sure whether what you have heard is true. Cross-check with more people, preferably the ones you trust the most.

Do a self-assessment. Sometimes your actions may have sparked off a rumour. For example, spending more time with your boss, going out with him too often for work that could have been done in office or taking too many liberties with the boss may have sent out the wrong signals. Take stock and take appropriate steps to ensure you're on the right side of office protocol.

Confront the people spreading the rumour. If the rumour still persists, identify the people behind these. Talk to them personally. Tell them what you have heard, the possible consequences it may have on you and try to convince them that what they think is wrong. Make sure your voice and body language do not give out a negative vibe. If the rumour is the product of professional jealousy or an inter-personal issue, then have an open conversation with the person concerned to resolve the differences.

Involve the boss if required. If you find yourself battling with this rumour beyond a point, involve your boss. Tell him how it is hurting you and you would want his help to stop this at once. If your boss can't help, try telling the HR personnel in your company.

Dr Sanjay Salooja

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