What to Say to Stop Gossip
In this concise instructional video, Shanli Liu, CPA, CTP, presents three actionable phrases for defusing workplace or social gossip. The first tactic is to state, “I don’t have an opinion on it,” signaling disinterest and interrupting the gossip flow. The second tactic asks, “Do you want to talk with them about it?” offering to facilitate direct communication, thereby challenging the gossiper's motives and often prompting them to back off. The third, the speaker’s favorite, is to respond, “That doesn’t sound right,” which casts doubt on the rumor and removes its entertainment value, causing the gossiper to seek another audience. The video emphasizes using these phrases to redirect conversation, encourage resolution, and discourage the spread of unverified information.
