The No Gossip Zone: A No-Nonsense Guide to a Healthy, High-Performing Work Environment - Hardcover

Sam Chapman is Chief Executive Officer of Empower Public Relations, Chicago's most accomplished new PR firm. Sam has appeared on national television programs, including Good Morning America and Your World with Neil Cavuto. His management techniques have been highlighted by the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, and BusinessWeek.

Starred Review. Chapman, CEO of a highly successful Chicago PR company, expands on an idea he first developed to fix what he thought was a minor office matter, and found it had astounding results for productivity, workplace happiness and business success: "In just one year of having a No-Gossip Zone and authentic communication policies in place, my clients doubled, as did my employees... and I was finally able to become the manager I always wanted to be." Far from the inevitable result of workplace interaction, Chapman sees "nothing 'natural' about communication that is hurtful," and puts a stop to it with mutual agreement among coworkers not to gossip, to discourage gossip when it's heard, and (perhaps most important of all) to share one's true feelings and thoughts honestly. Going into great detail, Chapman explains the manager's role in instigating cultural transformation in the office, using "authentic communication," feedback, "unarguable" speech and a sense of responsibility. A close, valuable look at a problem often taken for granted, this manual should help managers tamp down office drama and get back to work.