8 questions to ask yourself before you contribute to the firm’s grapevine

 

On a 'slow day' at work, one of the few pleasures available to you is to indulge in finding out the gossip. However, take a moment and stop before you start a good old gossip. Keeping your ear to the ground is one thing, passing on gossip is another. Adding to your firm's grapevine can be a seriously career limiting move. So, here are 8 questions to ask yourself BEFORE you share some information:

  • Why am I sharing this?
  • Does it create or solve a problem?
  • Do people really need to know this?
  • If I choose to not tell anyone, will the firm be any worse off?
  • Am I name-dropping?
  • Have I labeled facts as facts and opinions as opinions?
  • Will this be considered grassing, gossiping or cutting down another person or group?
  • In the worst case, how could this person use this information so that it could reflect badly on me?

What other things should you think about before sharing any information?

Add comment
Log in or register to post comments
This blog

I help professionals and firms become the Go-To-Expert. Unusually for someone with an Engineering Degree, I accidentally became a writer and used my knowledge on social media to write the current best-selling and award-winning book on networking, The FT Guide To Business Networking. (75 five star reviews on Amazon - and read the 1st chapter for free here) People frequently talk about me as someone who really knows her stuff – which may be the reason I have, over the last decade, worked with over 300 partners, coached and trained over 1000 professionals at every level of the UK’s most ambitious professional practices. After nearly 5 years for working for BDO LLP, I realised I loved the intellectual challenge of working with accountants, so made working with accountants (and lawyers as I am a glutton for punishment) my sector specialism.

I was honoured to be a judge at the British Accountancy Awards in 2011 and 2012, plus I am a member of the Accountant's Club Global Advisory Panel.

I’ve always loved a challenge which is why I have solved the problem in my next book, which has perplexed many accountants in practice – ‘How to make partner and still have a life’. Click on the link to read the 1st chapter for free.

The Excedia Group was founded by myself and Jon Baker to bring clarity, perspective and knowledge to help our clients achieve their business goals. Over 75% of our work comes from professional service firms - both large and small, helping them get more clients via referrals utilising networking and social media. Over 30% of the Excedia group’s clients are small professional practices of between 1-50 employees.

My work splits into about 50% Executive & Business Coaching with Partners, Practice Owners & Potential Partners, with the rest split between training, consultancy and writing.

I adore writing, (as well as helping others achieve their business goals without selling their soul) which is why I blog regularly at Partnership PotentialJoined Up NetworkingHow to make partner and still have a life and venture-Now