Skip to main content

How to Prevent Rumours in the Business Through Communication

Rumours in the business should be managed through proper communication.
As a manager you have the added responsibility to look after the communication in the business, that is to make sure that communication is coordinated, early enough, frequent and clear.  Many large businesses have communications employees to deal with the communication aspects for the business, but it ultimately remains the responsibility of the manager.  It is human nature to discuss issue with you colleagues, especially if there is uncertainty about unforeseen changes in the business or problems with employees.  But it is important to stop or prevent rumours early enough before they get out of hand, damage the reputation of the business or the morale of the employees.  What role should the manager play to put an end or prevent rumours in the business?
  • A weekly blog on the Intranet is increasingly being used by managers worldwide to inform employees about goings-on in the business or to obtain feedback on an important matter.  Similarly this blog can be used to put an end or to prevent rumours.  What better way for employees to hear information straight from the manager?
  • More social gatherings could also discourage rumours if employees get to know each other better.
  • The daily business operations should be conducted in a transparent way including how promotions are done, business systems are working or by making minutes of meetings available to all employees.
  • A rumour should be dealt with immediately.  As a rule, the business should have a couple of communication channels to communicate with employees and those channels should be used immediately when rumours are spread.
  • Team work and team spirit should be encouraged.  Employees should feel they are all working towards a common goal and are not competing with each other.  If employees feel jealous about the achievements of others, that could easily lead to gossip and unfounded rumours.
Rumours should thus be managed both the prevent and to stop them and communication plays a key role in doing so.

Related post

A CEO Blog for Better Communication
Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

The role of the manager in effective business communication

Happy employees are more productive. Business communication is no longer about how to write a letter, email or use effective writing skills.  It has also extended to other areas in the business, for example, excellent relationships within the business. A manager should not only concentrate on successful communication with its external clients, customers and stakeholders.  The employees of the business actually are   internal clients   and should also be treated with care.  Many scholars refer to this as   internal marketing , a very important feature of good business communication.  Employees’ well-being and work satisfaction play a large role in their productivity and how loyal they will be towards the business.  The role of the manager is to ensure good relationships with and among employees.   A healthy working environment is equally important.  Previous research has indicated that employees also have other career aspirations than only a salary. Unhappy employees as
Read more

Change management process: How to communicate changes

Any change management process requires good communication skills as many employees are naturally resistant to change.  If changes in the business are also not congruent with some employees' self-seeking interests, the challenge for managers is even greater.  Employees also have unique personalities and may react to change differently (also read my post why employees might be resistant to change ). Employees need to prepared for the change in the business and all changes need be reinforced.  What role does communication play in the change management process? Source: Soshable.com Before the changes are implemented, the manager first needs to motivate employees to appreciate the need for the change.   Many employees feel too comfortable in the current status quo and need to see how the changes could benefit them in the long term.   The manager could, for example, communicate current problems in the business and explain how the changes would solve them and also benefit t
Read more

About Ethical Communication and Management's Role

Ethical communication occurs when it is honest, open, fair and mindful of all employees' rights.  It is not surprising that the management of a business could play a pivotal role to set the example to employees.  They should lead by example, reward ethical behaviour as well as create an awareness of ethics in general. The corporate values of the business are imperative in that they guide the ethical behaviour of employees.  It is important for employees to understand the difference between right and wrong behaviour in the workplace. Business' values are usually related but not limited to human rights, employee development, health and safety, discrimination and respect for others as well as working conditions. How can a manager instill ethical communication practices in the business? By, for example: creating an awareness of the values of the business through continuous communication having ethical roundtable discussions with employees blog postings on the business&
Read more