Gossip or the the grapevine is often viewed as bad. Again, the grapevine
will be present until we all depart this earth. Why is the grapevine bad
when it tells of the birth of a child? or of a marriage? or a death? We
humans have some pretty amazing ways of getting the message through, and
for efficiency, and simple speed, it's tough to beat the grapevine.
Indeed the grapevine is exclusive, but if one views the grapevine, like
gossip, as a clue, a remote sensor, in the soul of the organization,
valuable information springs forth.
When gossip changes, the question is...how did it change? When the nasty,
at times, exclusive grapevine, transmits novel information, again the
question is, what happened? What is different?
Gossip, I suspect, is more a reflection of the soul than is dialogue, and
finally, don't organizations have a shadow? What better means of seeing
the shadow than through gossip or the grapevine?
Why push out, or remove a natural tool in understanding human
organizations?
Mott Street in July....try Hy. 57 in Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin, on July
4th.
David Henderson
From: "David B. Henderson" <dhenders@omnifest.uwm.edu>