- Gossiping is a common tool for bonding in group settings.
- It also signals a level of trust among the people engaging in the gossip.
- A leadership expert highlights its negative impact on career growth and progress.
- For more lifestyle news, go to the News24 Life front page.
Many of us are raised to believe talking about people behind their backs is not good. Yet, we grow up seeing most elders in our families engage in this behaviour.
It happens so often that it becomes routine, and we use it to bond in social groups throughout our lives.
A 2023 entry published in Psychology Today states, "Harmless gossiping with one's colleagues builds group cohesiveness and boosts morale, which can lead to greater job satisfaction."
However, gossip has quite a nasty reputation based on the assumption that what is being said about someone in their absence is often untrue, but this is not usually the case. The problem with gossip begins when what is said is untrue and that untruth is spread.
This causes problems in all aspects of life, but one expert believes that engaging in office gossip can be one of the five main things causing someone to feel stuck in a rut in their professional lives.
Advaita Naidoo, Africa MD at Jack Hammer, Africa's largest executive search firm, said that it is common for people to feel this way about their careers.
"Despite putting in the work and the hours, they may still not see the progress or growth they desire. This feeling of stagnation can leave them frustrated and disheartened, particularly if they believe they have been doing everything by the book."
Conversely, Naidoo said that when people feel this way, they fail to see that the problem isn't with their effort or dedication but rather with certain beliefs or behaviours that have become ingrained in their professional lives.
"There are a number of behaviours and beliefs that can hold professionals back. Being aware of these, and considering whether they may have played a role in your own career, could help you break free from the cycle of frustration, allowing you to start making real progress towards your goals," Naidoo says.
Here are the top five behaviours and beliefs that Naidoo lists as the reason most people feel stuck in their careers.
Indulging in the office grapevine
"Feeling like you’re in a professional rut is the ideal breeding ground for office gossip to flourish, but indulging is the catalyst that will start off a vicious cycle," said Naidoo.
It may seem comforting to cultivate a sense of camaraderie in sharing war stories about team members or managers, but this is one activity that is all but guaranteed to kneecap your career prospects.
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"Office gossip is an indulgence that seldom benefits anyone – and in fact could backfire by you being 'thrown under the bus' by fellow gossip-mongers at an opportune moment. This is definitely a career-limiting practice to be avoided."
Colleagues gossiping in the office.
Relying on meritocracy
Most people believe that hard work and great results will, and should, automatically lead to recognition and reward - whether in the form of promotion, annual increases, bonuses or benefits. However, automatic recognition is the exception, not the norm, so Naidoo believes it is vital for employees to diplomatically take credit where it is due, initiate conversations and negotiate for advancement.
"If you feel your contribution isn’t being acknowledged and suitably recognised, it may be necessary to become more strategic in terms of managing your career and communicating your value and accomplishments on an ongoing basis," she said.
Ignoring the impact of working remotely
While many of the world's workplaces have embraced remote and hybrid working arrangements, and most people are grateful for their more flexible working arrangements, being passed over for promotions and projects because you are out of sight and mostly out of mind isn't ideal.
"Remote and hybrid workers should not assume that their contributions are being automatically picked up by the key decision makers. The reality, which we are seeing all over the world, is that unless an organisation is truly invested in equality around hybrid and remote workers compared to their fully in-office peers, those with more flexible arrangements may feel their careers starting to lag."
Remote and hybrid workers should aim to continue "showing up" by consciously working on engagement with their managers and colleagues, volunteering for new projects, and cultivating relationships that extend beyond one's core scope of work.
It also goes without saying that they should take advantage of as many in-person meet-ups as possible.
Ignoring the rules of the game
"Staying out of office politics" is a noble endeavour, but it should not be mistaken for divorcing yourself from the rules of the game. Every organisation has certain norms, expectations and behaviours that form part of its culture and support cohesion and teamwork.
Without compromising personal authenticity and integrity, those seeking to advance their careers should aim to understand the unwritten rules of their company and teams and to become a valued player within the group – not one that stands to one side and does things on their terms only.
Neglecting social capital
Perhaps one of the most important ways to cultivate career advancement opportunities is to invest in networking and building relationships. Related to the sentiment of doing more than just getting the job done well, professionals need to broaden their horizons, seeking mentors and role models to help them on their journey.
It's also important to seek out people outside of one's immediate team to broaden access to information, resources and opportunities and increase one's visibility, particularly in big organisations.
Naidoo advises examining whether your "career quicksand" may be of your own doing instead of blaming a lack of career growth prospects on external factors.
"The good news is that if any of these five pitfalls are at play, you can take immediate action to address them and shift quickly out of your career rut," she concluded.
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