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ABOUT THE BOOK |
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Click here to order a copy of the English edition at Amazon US Even though office gossip is generally frowned upon, many studies show that gossip in organizations is not only inevitable, but can even be a positive communication tool. However, by gossiping in the wrong way, employees can easily lose the trust of their colleagues and be perceived negatively very quickly. Research shows that people who claim to never gossip tend to be considered as socially inept, but those that are constantly gabbing at the coffee machine are quickly seen as untrustworthy. There is an optimal amount of time one should gossip – somewhere in the middle – which we call the sweet spot of gossip. However, it’s not only the amount of time one spends gossiping that will make or break an employee or manager. Other factors such as credibility, what we gossip about, whom we gossip with, culture, and place, all play an equally crucial role in the art of gossiping successfully at work. Finding the right balance for all of these factors is of the essence. |
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REVIEWS |
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“I love this book! Whether you call it gossip, dishing the dirt, or being connected to the grapevine, failure to exchange a wide-range of information is detrimental to your career. Dominique Darmon has done a terrific job of illuminating why you must be in the know at work and how you can do it respectfully and with integrity.” “This is a must-read for everybody who thinks that gossiping is just for evil people. The author makes clear that gossiping can play a positive role, provided that you do it according to the rules of the game. Dominique Darmon explicitly and clearly describes these rules. Who wouldn't want to know more about that?” “An excellent approach to the concept of gossip and rumor. The science in Darmon’s book is solid and will open your mind to a broader view of these fascinating human qualities. May it stand on equal footing with the art of complaining!” “Have I Got Dirt For You offers valuable insights in an inevitable and valuable aspect of human interaction: gossip. There are great lessons for both the office and Zoom sessions.” “You haven’t got this from me—but this is a scandalously good book! Okay, she cuts corners, but with a quick wit, a sharp pen, and a strong base in both literature and anecdote, who cares?” “In this highly readable book, Dominique Darmon has made very clear that there are human behaviors that transcend cultures. Gossiping is a good example of this. While different cultures gossip in different ways, it will remain an important and meaningful activity for humankind. Recommended!” “The work does a pitch-perfect job of both eliciting the personal, universal nature of gossip and treating it seriously as a method of communication. Readers who’ve ever indulged in such conversation—and who hasn’t?—will look at the subject in a new light after finishing this book.” “A sharp, lucid, and compelling study of a relatable but rarely discussed topic.” “In Have I Got Dirt For You: Using Office Gossip to Your Advantage Darmon lays out a fascinating analysis of how gossip is good if we better understand it, know when and how to dish it out. She also offers examples of when to engage with someone offering 'juicy banter'.” |
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Handelsblatt Review, September 10, 2022Engaging in office gossip is considered a productivity killer. After all, anyone who regularly chats at the coffee machine is not working, but spreading rumours, eavesdropping on colleagues or gossiping. Gossip on the job is better than its reputation, as Dominique J. Darmon, communication expert from the Netherlands, shows in her new book “Have I Got Dirt for You”. |
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THE ABILITY TO GOSSIP IS WHAT DISTINGUISHES US FROM ANIMALSPlanning to abolish gossip? In this interview communication expert Dominique Darmon explains why that is not a good idea. Click here for the full interview in German (PDF) |
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Handelsblatt Interview, September 23, 2023The most dangerous traps in office gossip - and how you can use office gossip for your career. Communications expert Dominique Darmon says that if you don't get involved in office gossip, you won't get very far in your job. But there are pitfalls. A guide. |
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3 Indie Books To Help You Navigate the WorkplaceGossip can transmit significant information and serve a valuable purpose in a company, argues Dominique J. Darmon in Have I Got Dirt for You. “Let’s say that you know that your boss…has a reputation for hitting on a record number of employees,” Darmon writes. “If a new, young colleague comes to work for your department, and…you notice the sleazebag flirting with her but choose to say nothing, you will eventually be judged quite poorly.” The book deftly looks at gossip as a key method of communication. “A sharp, lucid, and compelling study of a relatable but rarely discussed topic,” our reviewer writes. |
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'You can never tell this to anyone, but...' do's and don'ts on office gossipEvajinek.nl |
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Preview: Have I Got Dirt For YouIt all started in one of my corporate communications classes at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. My students and I had been looking at various organizational diagrams, examining how information flows in an organization. Is it better to send information top down or bottom up? What role do the grapevine and gossip play in all of this? |
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‘Avoiding gossip altogether is not good a strategy’Success in the workplace depends in large part on the way we gossip, writes Dominique Darmon, senior lecturer at The Hague University of Applied Sciences in Have I Got Dirt For You. In the book, she gives a number of tips to find an optimal balance. ‘Start slowly and see how people react.’ |
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Gossip at workDo you gossip at work? Probably everybody does it. And it doesn't have to be as bad as we think. You hear the do's and don'ts in this episode. IN DUTCH: BNR.nl |
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AWARDS |
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Nomination Book of the year 2023 Order of AdvisorsOoa Jury Report: "Gossip received a broad positive perspective in this book. Many examples describe a wider range of what we usually consider as gossiping. A typical LinkedIn reaction was: ‘Wonderful that this theme receives the recognition it deserves, gossip has an official term in our organization: GIS, the Grapevine Information System’. The jury was pleased to read that it often describes how people in organizations give meaning to the signals they receive. The book is extremely well-researched and the jury was astonished to learn that there has been so much scientific research written on this topic. The author used many examples from stories, literature, and films to get her message across, which contributes to the relatability and readability of the book. If you work for or in an organization where people complain about gossip, read this book to put this in a new perspective and understand its dynamics." |
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Axiom Awards Silver medalThe Axiom Business Book Awards are the largest and most respected critical guidepost for business books in today's new world of publishing. These prestigious and competitive awards are presented in 25 business categories and serve as the premier list to help readers discover new and innovative works. Axiom Award-winning books will help readers understand changing trends and technologies affecting the business world and point out opportunities in our complicated new economy. Previous medalists include Nobel laureate Robert Shiller, former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Pulitzer Prize winner Doris Kearns Goodwin, philanthopist and investor Raymond Dalio, as well as many other business and thought leaders. |
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