A rumor is a message that spreads from person to person without confirmation or authority. It is usually about a celebrity, a place of business or some other person or event. It is often false or at least twisted so much that it is difficult to discern what the original story was. Sometimes the rumors are harmless and others are viciously constructed lies meant to hurt someone. Whether a rumor is true or not, it can damage the reputation of the subject and create feelings of jealousy, anger or disappointment on the part of those who hear it.
The main reason people start and spread rumors is the desire to reduce uncertainty. Uncertainty is unpleasant, so people seek out information that will give them the confidence they need to feel at ease. They also seek out information to satisfy curiosity about something that is happening or may happen in the future. This is a natural human behavior that serves the purpose of protecting individuals from harm.
Many rumors emerge as a result of the lack of timely official communication. For example, management may announce to lower-level employees that the company is outsourcing IT support services but not provide any details about what this means or how it will be accomplished. Then, a group of employees might take it upon themselves to make sense of the situation. They might come up with different interpretations, and each will pass the rumor on to others.
Once a rumor is out, it can become very difficult to control. For instance, some employees might spend so much time focusing on the rumor that they don’t do their actual job well. They could become less productive, which will ultimately cost the company more money. This is especially true if the rumor involves their performance evaluation.
In some cases, a person starts a rumor out of spite or anger. He might be upset with a person who is a popular celebrity or he might have negative feelings about his own workplace. He can even be jealous of a colleague. This can cause him to start a rumor that will destroy that person’s reputation or create conflict in the office.
The best way to prevent a rumor from spreading is to be open about your work and personal life. You can also develop a strong sense of fairness in the organization by seeking input from supervisors, improving consistency and increasing the ethical nature of decisions made. This will help to eliminate some of the sources of rumor in the first place. It will also help to minimize the amount of gossip passed on by informal channels, such as the grapevine. However, a good dose of prudence should always be added to these measures.