How to Use the Grapevine Effectively in Business Organizations?

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Summary

Grapevine is an informal channel of communication that stretches throughout an organization in all directions irrespective of authority levels. Although it carries some degree of error and distortion, the management can use grapevine to supplement formal communication channels. Ignoring grapevine is to ignore a valuable source of communication. To eliminate its negative consequences, managers must learn to manage and control it. They can open up all channels of communication to present facts positively, fight negative messages with positive weapons, and bring grapevine under control through job design and quality of work life. The negative consequences of grapevine can be eliminated if managers create a trust-relationship with employees and provide them adequate access to information and a feeling of security. Rumors spread when situations are unpredictable, unstructured, unplanned, and beyond control. Therefore, managers must provide accurate and substantial information about situations to employees and pick up false rumors and dispel them by providing correct information. Managers should also avoid threatening informal groups responsible for spreading grapevine and integrate their interests with those of informal groups. The workplace community is maintained not only by work itself but also by informal human relationships.

Table of Content

Grapevine refers to the informal network of communication within an organization that extends across all levels of authority. This form of communication can be used by management to complement formal channels. Despite the possibility of error and distortion, steps can be taken to rectify any inaccuracies in the grapevine.

Ignoring the grapevine means disregarding an important communication source. However, the management can eliminate any negative outcomes and also nurture the positive advantages. It is crucial for managers to learn how to regulate and handle it. By opening up all channels of organizational communication, the management can present factual information in a positive manner to employees. This approach enables them to combat negative messages using the powerful tools of facts and figures.

By improving job design and enhancing the quality of work life, the management can effectively manage the grapevine, preventing employee boredom, idleness, and suspicions. Building a trusting relationship with employees is key to eliminating the negative consequences associated with the grapevine.

The lack of effective communication between management and employees regarding organizational policies, objectives, and work procedures leads to the proliferation of rumors. Insufficient access to information and feelings of insecurity contribute to the negative consequences of these grapevines. Managers should prioritize providing employees with adequate information and a sense of security.

To effectively handle rumors, it is crucial to furnish accurate and substantial information regarding unforeseeable and disorganized circumstances that are outside an individual’s jurisdiction. Managers must debunk false rumors by offering precise details. Additionally, managers should contemplate the potential impact of their choices and behaviors on informal groups and systems within the company.

The management can use the grapevine to assess public opinions within the organization or understand employees’ sentiments in specific situations. This will undoubtedly help them make suitable policy decisions.

To maintain a sense of security among employees and prevent the spread of false rumors, it is crucial for management to avoid alienating informal groups who are effective in disseminating information via the grapevine. Identifying key individuals within these groups and keeping them properly informed can help minimize the circulation of inaccurate information that may cause anxiety and unrest.

Management should understand that the workplace community is not solely based on work, but also on informal relationships among employees. Therefore, managers need to sincerely align their interests with those of the informal groups.

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How to Use the Grapevine Effectively in Business Organizations?. (2016, Nov 25). Retrieved from

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