We all love a juicy story! Whether or not we like to admit it, that means gossiping (most of the time, at least). According to Reader’s Digest, people spend around 52 minutes a day gossiping during the 16 hours of being awake.
So, take a second to think about the last thing you’ve discussed with your spouse, colleague, manager or friend. Maybe it was complaining for the sake of it, or spreading a nasty rumour about that one co-worker who just wears too much perfume!
The point is, there’s always something new to talk about, and most of the time, the content is of a negative nature. This is the reason why gossip is generally frowned upon in society, even more so when it leads to forms of cyberbullying.
But have you ever considered the notion of positive gossip? Yes, it’s a thing. And a good thing at that.
The Daily Star explains that positive gossip involves celebrating the achievements of others and sharing that information to the benefit of the next person. It can reap great benefits, especially in the workplace by helping to build positive relationships and create a sense of self-worth.
PositivePsychology outlines five examples of positive gossip to implement in the workplace:
- One of your co-workers completed a project on time and stayed under budget. The positive response: “she’s great with time and resource management.”
- One of your colleagues received a well-deserved promotion. The positive response: “It’s a perfect fit for him. He has great analytic skills.”
- During the monthly catch-up, have everyone anonymously share something positive they noticed about a co-worker. The positive result: the person feels uplifted and appreciated.
- Implement the “thorns and roses” concept during a weekly meeting. The rose will represent something positive that’s happened. The thorn will be something negative that took place. Members of the team can offer suggestions on how to resolve the thorny situation. The positive result: team building and helping fellow co-workers to overcome their obstacles.
- Promote and follow the THINK rule: True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, and Kind. The positive result: self-improvement and a willingness to be kind and considerate.
Hearing kind, positive words spoken about yourself can significantly improve your mental health and might be just what you need to put that pep back into your step. The same applies to being kind about others. Why not make someones day if you have the opportunity to do so.
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