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The aim of this case study is to explore the issue of political game playing, providing participants with the opportunity to think about how gossip in particular can cause problems for people in many different ways. You can use this case study individually or adapt it for use with your team.
Allow around 40 minutes for completion.
The case study will help you to…
- discuss the best ways of dealing with office gossip
- apply these strategies to your own workplace
Neil Daly, a financial advisor, had been asked to join the ‘Big Cheese’ dinner club, a group of the most important movers and shakers in the finance industry in his town. During his first few dinners, he listened patiently to the conversation, chipping in with the occasional comment here and there, but he never really felt comfortable venturing his opinions on anything other than the weather. However, he soon began to feel left out, believing that his reluctance to contribute was giving people the wrong impression. At his fourth dinner, after toying with his tagliatelle for some time, he decided ‘It’s time to let them know that I can play with the big guns too’. So he joined in the conversation with gusto, providing his own anecdotes of corporate life and snippets of inside information from his own financial services organization, ABXY Investments.
Neil directed most of his conversation at Anne Baker, who was sitting directly opposite him. A new member of the Big Cheese club, Anne had just moved to the area in the last couple of weeks and, like Neil, had been fairly quiet so far. Unfortunately, Neil got rather carried away with his stories, so much so that he told Anne some gossip that his neighbor Bill, an executive recruiter, had told him just that morning. According to Bill, there was going to be a massive shake-up at ABXY. Lowering his voice, Neil leaned across the table and revealed what he had been told: ‘The new Chief Executive seems to be totally obsessed with power and control – apparently, he is planning on bringing in all his own people and a lot of my colleagues stand to lose their jobs.’ Anne listened intently until Neil had finished, then replied, ‘Well, we’ll just have to wait and see, won’t we?’ Neil was left shamefaced as Anne introduced herself as the new Chief Executive of ABXY and excused herself from the table....
Task
Either individually or in your group, answer the following questions:
- Who has the biggest problem here? Neil, Anne or Bill? Give a reason for your answer.
- Who made the first political blunder?
- Who stands to lose the most from this situation?
- What should be done to rectify the matter? Explain your answer.
- Should Neil give up his membership of the Big Cheese club?
Compare your answers with the suggested answers given here. If you are working in a group, discuss with the other groups how your approaches were similar or different.
Think of a common situation in your workplace where office politics and gossip come into play. Note down some ideas on how you can manage the situation effectively in the future.
Suggested Answers
- All of them have a problem. Bill’s main problem is that he has violated his confidentiality agreement with Anne by spreading outside information. Anne has a problem because it now appears to be common knowledge that she will be bringing in her own people, the implication being that she will make existing employees redundant. This advance bad publicity will make it very difficult for her to come into her new job and operate effectively. Although Neil appears to be in the most trouble, he is probably the least affected. He has embarrassed himself by showing himself to be an untrustworthy blabbermouth but the others face more serious problems – Bill possibly even faces legal action because he has potentially breached his contract.
- Bill made the first political blunder by telling Neil confidential information.
- Bill, again, stands to lose the most because he probably has a legally binding agreement with Anne and ABXY.
- Bill needs to make up a lot of ground with Anne, smoothing over the situation and preventing legal action/losing business contracts with ABXY. Neil can’t do anything apart from telling Bill what has happened immediately.
- Neil shouldn’t give up the club because nothing is to be gained from running away. He should apologize for his indiscretion and leave it at that.
