Conversation Planner · for managers
How to talk to an employee who gossips
Read the approach below, or skip ahead and get a plan written for your own situation.
Plan my conversation — free ↓Why the usual approach fails
A team-wide email about "professionalism" tells the gossiper nothing and makes everyone else nervous. Gossip is usually a real concern travelling down the wrong road. You have to address it directly, with one specific example, and give the concern somewhere legitimate to go.
How to open
"I need to talk about something specific. On Monday you told two people that Sam was close to being let go. That isn't true, and Sam heard about it. I want to understand what was behind it."
Ask before you tell
- "What was the concern you were actually trying to raise?"
- "How do you think it landed with Sam?"
- "Where could that concern have gone instead?"
What to agree before you leave the room
A clear route: concerns about a colleague go to that person or to you, not to third parties. Check in after a month.
Make it yours — free
Edit the details below to match your situation and get a full five-step COACH plan by email.
Other conversations
- How to talk to an employee who undermines you →
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- How to talk to an employee who asks for a raise you can't give →
- How to talk to an employee who was passed over for promotion →
- How to talk to an employee who doesn't speak up in meetings →
Built on the COACH method by Jon Kludt, Business Coach · Certified EOS Implementer® · thecoachconversation.com