The Truth About Gossip: What Leaders Need to Know for Stronger Teams
Spill the Tea… Strategically: Amy Gallo on the Productive Power of Gossip
When you hear the word “gossip,” what comes to mind? Whispers by the watercooler? Rumors run amok? Office drama you’d rather avoid?
If you’ve ever felt torn about participating in office gossip, you’re not alone. Gossip has long been considered taboo in professional settings — especially for leaders trying to set the tone for positive communication and strong team dynamics. But what if we’ve misunderstood its power?
At the 2025 LeadingBetter Summit, workplace communication expert Amy Gallo (author of Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone Even Difficult People and contributing editor at Harvard Business Review) shared a fresh, research-backed perspective on how informal conversations — even those labeled as gossip — can play a critical role in leadership communication, team cohesion, and organizational culture. In her session titled “Spill the Tea with a Strategic Guide to Office Gossip,” Gallo made a compelling case: gossip isn’t just an unavoidable part of office life — it can be a tool for connection, influence, and even leadership development.
First, let’s talk definitions.
Gallo kicked off by clarifying what gossip really is: talking about someone who’s not present.
That’s it.
It doesn’t have to be malicious. It’s not always toxic. And most of the time, it’s not even negative.
In fact, studies show:
- 96% of people gossip. (That other 4%? Monks, maybe.)
- We gossip for about an hour a day — whether we admit it or not.
- 80% of gossip is neutral, and only 13% is negative.
It turns out, gossip is how we communicate, make sense of our surroundings, and establish workplace norms and team dynamics.
So, why do we demonize it?
Because “gossip” often feels like a dirty word. Gallo noted how deeply cultural — and gendered — our discomfort is. Women are more likely to be labeled “gossips,” while men call it “information-sharing.”
But the research says men and women gossip equally. What differs is how we talk about it.
Even more surprising? Managers and people in power gossip more than junior staff. Why? Because they need information to lead effectively and maintain strong team dynamics.
The Upsides of Gossip (Yes, There Are Some)
Here’s what productive, strategic gossip can do:
- Build trust and connection — sharing stories fosters closeness among team members.
- Provide access to unspoken rules — especially important for women leaders and underrepresented voices.
- Shape workplace culture — gossip helps reinforce or challenge organizational norms.
- Create informal influence — if you have information, people come to you.
In Gallo’s words: gossip is part of the “messy humanness of the workplace.” The key is using it intentionally as a leadership communication tool.
But What About the Downsides?
Of course, gossip can be harmful—when it:
- Spreads misinformation
- Damages reputations
- Fuels exclusion or power plays
And here’s a kicker: Even corrected misinformation sticks. Once we hear something, our brains latch onto it — even if we’re later told it’s false.
So, What Should Leaders Do?
You can’t ban gossip. (If you try, people will just gossip about the ban.)
Instead, Gallo advises:
- Foster psychological safety. Make space for trust and openness.
- Distinguish between toxic gossip and healthy conversation.
- Check your instincts. Are you labeling something as “gossip” just because you’re not part of the conversation?
- Ask: Is this a power play? Or a genuine concern?
Leaders should not punish people for positive or neutral gossip. Instead, use it as a signal — what are people trying to understand? What relationships are forming?
Final Tea
Amy Gallo didn’t just give us permission to gossip — she gave us a framework to use it better. In a world where communication, team dynamics, and company culture matter more than ever, we can’t afford to ignore how people share and shape information. And maybe, just maybe, we can all own up to being a little bit of a gossip… in the best way.
Amy’s book Getting Along is a must-read — and so is her podcast Women at Work
As part of our commitment to advancing leadership development, LeadingBetter brings experts like Amy Gallo to spark new conversations about how individuals lead, collaborate, and communicate in today’s workplace. Her talk invited attendees to reframe workplace gossip as a team-building strategy, and to explore how effective communication builds trust, sets cultural norms, and strengthens professional relationships.
Stay tuned for date and speaker announcements for the 2026 LeadingBetter Summit!
Want more insights on how to navigate difficult conversations, shift toxic team dynamics, and grow as a communicator and leader?
Read more at leadingbetter.com, your hub for leadership development and talent training designed for today’s most dynamic workplaces.
SIGN UP FOR OUR LEADERSHIP INSIGHTS NEWSLETTER
Looking for opportunities to learn and grow, or help leaders on your teams?
Check out our calendar of upcoming courses, or schedule a discovery meeting to see how we can support your entire team.
VIEW OUR COURSE CALENDAR SCHEDULE YOUR DISCOVERY MEETING TODAY