Gossip at Work: The Hidden Cost of Chatter

Dental Drills Bits

Gossip at Work: The Hidden Cost of Chatter Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury Gossip at Work: The Hidden Cost of Chatter 0:00

Episode Description Gossip may seem like harmless chatter, but it has the power to erode trust, damage morale, and derail productivity in your dental practice. In this episode, Sandy and Dana tackle the tough topic of workplace gossip—what it sounds like, why it spreads, and how to stop it before it takes a toll on your culture and your team.

From NLRB rules to real-life consulting stories, they share practical ways to address negativity, encourage accountability, and build a team that thrives on trust. Plus, Dana delivers scripted verbal skills you can use right away to shut gossip down respectfully and effectively.

Whether you're a practice owner, manager, or team member, this episode will help you foster a workplace where professionalism wins and gossip has no place.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:

• Why “friendly chatter” sometimes crosses the line into legal risk

• What the National Labor Relations Board says about banning gossip

• How negativity spreads—and how to stop it at the source

• Why some team members resist consulting and how to handle it

• How to create a safe, gossip-free workspace with open doors and clear roles

• The real reason broken appointments and low morale go hand in hand

• Why clearly defined job descriptions reduce friction and confusion

• How to use team agreements and core values to unify your staff

• A leadership lesson from the book The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon

• Verbal skills to shut gossip down with professionalism

• Why patients are paying attention to more than just your dentistry

Bonus Resource: Want a team-building moment at your next staff meeting? Look up the poem “Nobody’s Friend” and read it aloud. You might be surprised by the conversations it sparks.

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