Make Over My Mouth Project 2012: 5 Ways to Squash the Seeds of Gossip

OK. You’re determined not to spread secrets about your friends. You’ve decided that you are going to be a trustworthy person. But you still find yourself in situations where others are not so discreet or honorable. How do you nip gossip in the bud?

Here are 5 ways to squash gossip before it grows:

1. Plan ahead with safe topics of conversation when attending social functions.
2. Change the subject. Before the speaker has a chance to get the gossip out, interrupt with a question or perhaps a compliment on what the speaker is wearing.
3. When your conversation partner is about to share a juicy tidbit about “Shari,” ask, “Did Shari ask you to share this information with me?”
4. If your group begins chatting about someone who isn’t present, smile sweetly and say, “You know, this is making me uncomfortable.”
5. Let your friends know you are trying to observe a gossip “fast”—trying to avoid all gossipy conversations.

It’s true that initially you might make someone uncomfortable, but they will also know that they can trust you with their secrets. Perhaps you will start a trend of gossip fasts!

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