From the company’s next big changes to the “real” reason one of your staff members recently resigned, the gossip has theories on just about everything—and loves to share them. Her entertaining dishes make her popular among your employees, but who else is she talking to?

Debra Condren on managing The Gossip

Have a straight-up conversation with this person. Don’t mention names, but say something such as, “It’s come to my attention you have spoken about proprietary company information....

"That’s normal in an organization, to some degree. But you know corporate information is proprietary. If you’re gossiping—to put it bluntly—then there’s reason to suspect your ability to keep proprietary information safe.

"If you’re giving the appearance of being loose-lipped inside the company, this erodes my and this organization’s trust in you. So I am letting you know, straight up, that you are on a short leash. Prove me wrong and turn this behaviour around so that we can move forward in a productive way.”