Every morning the same for me;  run, sports page and crossword puzzle.  It has been that way for over 40 years.  So why mention it now?

It was an article by Bob Nightengale of USA Today talking about trade rumors.  The subject was Roy Halladay of the Toronto Blue Jays which showed up in my daily routine.

Seven or eight teams are rumored to be the one that will acquire him via a trade.  It also means people on each one of those teams are in the gossip, too.  Yet only one team will get Mr. Halladay.

In the Building a Championship Team work that my company (Todd Coaching, LLC) does we say there are two œkillers of organizations.  One is gossip, the other is … Oh, I guess youll have to wait for the next blog post …

Do you think anyone of those players is a 100% engaged in his work and on their “A” game with the uncertainty the gossip creates?  I doubt it.  Some will say they dont pay any attention, it is just the nature of the business.  As adverse as people are to change, they have to have a reaction that is concerned about what will happen and how it will affect them.  It would be much more effective for management to call them in and give them the straight stuff about what they are thinking.  People can deal with what they know.  Uncertainty caused by the unfounded gossip can damage relationships forever.

Gossip is mostly conjecture without substance.  It is supposition without responsibility.  All of it under the guise of  being the œnature of the business.

What about the teammates of all those people named?  The press (and other media) continue to opine without taking responsibility for anything.  Does anyone ever call them on being totally off base?  They are rarely held to account.

We have such great ways to gather information these days that I think what the media predicts should be posted on the Internet so people can actually be reminded about how far they were off in what they reported.  And, you and I are just as much at fault when we spread what was said that wasnt backed up by facts.

Lets go back to the organization for a minute.  What happens when you hear a piece of gossip about yourself?  Someone else?

First we believe it might be true.  Second, the mind begins to take a downward spiral.  Worst case scenarios will tend to be the order of the day.  Then, we attempt to repeat what we heard.  More downward spirals.

Sometimes gossip will damage a relationship so that there is  permanent damage.  We make up stuff.  We have hurt feelings.  Oh, I know someone is thinking that it is just the œbusiness.  I thought we covered that.  I assure you that thought has never made any difference whatsoever.

You are reading and asking this question:  So, how do you stop gossip?  Simple.  Stop gossiping.

Dont listen to it.  Dont repeat it.  Dont start it.  It is easy to promote some idea without having any consequences for your actions.

Sometimes we are just trying to look good and show people how smart we are.  If you are actually smart you dont have to prove anything.  You already are.  When you  have the facts and all the parties have heard what you have to say, there will be no need.

I know of situations that were created out of gossip that have caused lasting damage.  Friends who never spoke to each other again.  It doesnt have to be that way.  You can resolve anything between two people who are willing to talk.

Sometimes that willingness is tough to come by.  People make each other wrong about something they have no idea is true, false or somewhere in-between.  Dont you think we could be responsible for what comes out of our mouth?