The Art of Leadership

Chapter 24. How to Build a Rumor

There’s a rumor wandering through your team right now, and I’m sorry to report, it’s toxic. It’s the kind of rumor that stirs up so much interest and emotional energy that the humans can’t help but repeat it to each other.

It’s about you, and it’s completely untrue.

When you hear the rumor, the content will provoke instant white-hot blinding rage, and you’ll irrationally think, “I’m going to find the person who started this lie, and I am going to give them a piece of my mind!” Bad news. It is unlikely you’ll ever know where this rumor came from—and worse, it’s a certainty that it won’t be the last toxic rumor to wander your halls.

When you calm down and are ready to listen, I have three stories to tell. I’ll explain where many rumors originate and why they perpetuate, and I’ll finish with a simple communication technique to combat them.

Gray Space

I’ve had this hypothetical meeting many times.

Joel, a peer, walks into the conference room upset. This scheduled-at-the-last-minute 15-minute meeting has no agenda. Joel starts, “Thanks for the meeting. I’m kinda freaking out.”

“What’s up? How can I help?”

“Chris [Joel’s boss] was out last week. She canceled our 1:1 the week before, so I didn’t know she was going to be out. That’s two 1:1s that we’ve missed.”

“Okay, but she’s back today, right?”

“Right, and I’m pretty sure she’s going to fire me.”

“Whoa, two missed 1:1s and a crossed wire do not a firing make, Joel. There’s something essential I’m missing ...