Grapevine Communication

We are studying informal communication in our program right now. It's pretty interesting. We have had some good conversation about the grapevine form of communication. Otherwise known as rumors or gossip. The most interesting aspect of this is that great leaders see the grapevine as something positive.

1. They figure out how to listen to the grapevine to sharpen themselves. What is the grapevine saying about me? What are others saying? This can be detected if we will open our heart for honest critique. This is hard, but effective.

2. Great leaders also learn how to send information down the grapevine. This happens by knowing who people turn to for information and feeding them with information that you would like passed along. This way they have something to gossip about that will benefit the leader rather than hurt him/her.

Interesting.