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Q: How to handle gossip with Chinese staff?
I've recently joined a new company, and have so far been warmly welcomed by the staff there, both expat and Chinese.
Occasionally, I'll go home by subway and one of the Chinese employees will be in the same wagon. Two in particular, separately, have started gossiping to me about this or that person in the company, mostly people over them and over me in 'rank'. I've remained very vague in my answers, as I really don't know how to react to this.
On the one hand I'm cynically thinking they're trying to draw me out on this so they can share my views with this or that person, and on the other I'm wondering if to them this isn't a big deal and it's a sign of trust or openess. Anyone had to deal with a similar situation before?
12 years 22 weeks ago in Business & Jobs - China
Stay away from it. I've seen gossipy workplaces explode, and you don't want to be a part of it on the off chance it does, and if office factions start forming, you really want to be neutral. It's not worth it to get involved, really.
Just keep staying as vague and neutral as possible.
Use it to your advantage in a Machiavelliansort of way!
Best two books in the world you can read which address this (sorta kinda)
1.) Art of War by Sun Tzu
2.) The Prince...by Machiavelli
Office gossip here is an olympic sport. The best option is just to try and stay out of making opinions or hanging with the groups that will damage your career.
Trust me, the bosses know who the gossipers are and they are on a shit list. Anyone who is seen with them is assumed to be part of the gossip crowd.
Be "passive, passive, and passive again". Adopt a policy of "three 'nos': no responsibility; no suggestions; no crime".
