Blog Post: MAN OVERBOARD!...AT THE WATER COOLER?

Most reasonable human beings would agree that jumping from a perfectly good ship without a pirate's sword in your back is a sure case of self-sabotage. So what would make an employee carelessly toss a career overboard at the workplace water cooler?

"You're kidding, right?" "I can't believe it!" "Whaaaaaaat!"...And the list goes on. These are typical responses to topics too hot for the workplace water cooler. So where is this so-called water cooler and what could possibly be wrong with getting the latest updates from the "411 operator" of the office; aka the Office Gossip?

The present day water cooler takes on many forms. Most water cooler conversations happen in places where employees feel casual and safe. Designated smoking areas, restrooms, elevators, e-mails, text messages and seemingly deserted corridors are the unassuming planks from which many a career has been tossed to the sharks. The more informal the environment, people tend to erroneously presume an increased sense of security. Countless professionals from preachers to politicians will remorsefully attest to the fact that the microphone is ALWAYS ON. Emails should be written with the knowledge that all electronic communications are just a point and click away from the front page of every media source in the world.  Be aware that as long as you are in the workplace, there are policies, procedures and laws that govern employee communication. Even if you work from home, be conscientious of the nature of your work-related e-mails and telephone conversations.

While being open to communication is essential to being perceived as a team player, many employees blur the boundaries between their personal and workplace appropriate conversations, often resulting in situations that create issues with morale, confidentiality and integrity. It is also important to understand that organizational leaders have a duty to act when issues that may constitute a violation of civil rights or that constitute a potentially hostile work environment are exposed in the workplace. So even though you are just casually "sharing" with your supervisor (who is also your personal friend) regarding another co-worker's reluctant affair with her manager, your supervisor may have a duty to act upon the information you casually shared. The result could be several careers overboard.

So what are the guidelines for positive and productive workplace communications? Here are five simple tips to keep you from going overboard at the water cooler.

• Establish personal ground rules for workplace communication that address issues which may not already be covered in your organizational code of conduct. Issues such as religion, personal finance, race and ethnicity, physical features such as hair, baldness, birthmarks and skin tone; gender based lifestyle and personal romantic relationships. Discussion of these and other sensitive issues may cause co-workers to feel uncomfortable and may be factors in contributing to a hostile work environment. Remember that everyone may not share your level of comfort on highly personal topics and no employer wants to defend against allegations of a hostile work environment.
• Understand that the workplace is never as casual as it might seem. Those who bring gossip to you about other co-workers usually maintain their low standard of confidentiality when your personal information is available for dissemination to the masses. Yes, simply put they gossip about you too! Still, it is important to be social and not to alienate co-workers. A great way to manage the gossip and remain engaged as a trusted team member is to simply change the subject to the job or task that should be the gossip's primary focus at the time. Some people simply respond to the gossip, "That's T.M.I." (too much information). Gossips usually get the message and ship off to more lucrative dumping grounds.
• Beware of over-sharing your personal matters with workplace confidants. In this time of economic uncertainty it can be tempting to divulge personal information that would usually be relegated to the confines of the family table. After all, we sometimes spend more waking hours with our co-workers than we do with our own family members. Information on topics such as bankruptcy, foreclosure, marital or extra-marital problems and sensitive health care issues can pose potential damage to a person's career. Be very careful of placing your career at risk by exposing the details of private matters in the workplace. Hot potatoes are hard to hold onto and in the end you will have to consider how you contributed to the story of your life being placed on Front Street.
• Respected professional reputations are built on trust. You must decide whether the  momentary adrenaline rush of broadcasting the latest tidbit of gossip throughout the workplace is truly worth being branded as the leak that is sinking the Titanic.
• Before you take the plunge at the water cooler, count up the cost and remember the Golden Rule.