Stay Out of the Gossip—and Still Protect Your Name
Let’s be honest: we all love a little “tea” every now and then. Myself included. We’re human. We want to know what’s going on around us, especially when things at work feel uncertain, messy, or unfair.
But here’s the problem: gossip has a way of pulling you in, chewing you up, and spitting you out—fast.
What starts off as curiosity or venting can turn into a toxic loop that distracts you from your actual goals and damages your credibility along the way. I always tell people this: if you need to vent, call your best friend, text your group chat, talk to your partner—but don’t do it at work. Because here’s the thing—no one can misquote something you never said.
If you don’t want your name tied up in mess, then don’t contribute to messy conversations. And you don’t have to be harsh about it either. You just need to have what I call a drawer statement—a go-to line you can pull out when someone tries to bring you into a conversation you don’t want to be a part of. For me, it’s something simple like, “Wow, really? I hadn’t heard that.” Even if I have. That’s it. That’s the whole statement. You don’t need to add commentary. You don’t need to agree. You don’t need to feed the energy.
Now, let’s be clear—staying out of gossip doesn’t mean staying silent when your name or your work is being misrepresented. If something untrue is circulating and it affects your reputation, your relationships, or your performance, speak up. You can do it calmly and directly. Something as simple as, “Hey, I heard there might be some confusion around XYZ, so I just wanted to clarify in case anyone had questions,” goes a long way.
You don’t need to go into defense mode. You don’t need to call anyone out. You just need to protect your credibility and move on.
Because at the end of the day, your name is your brand. And in every room you’re not in, that name is either working for you—or against you. Protect it.
Don’t let gossip speak louder than your work.
This post is part of a series based on Tip #60 from my book, Career Gymnastics.
If you’ve been loving this content and want more strategies for navigating work with intention and authenticity, grab the book—it’s available now online and in stores.
Next up: when to keep fighting—and when it’s time to let go and move on.
Blog Post #5 is going to be a word you didn’t even know you needed.
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