What should we say about others?

As I grew up working through high school, into the military, through my college days, and into the corporate work environment, I learned that it was perfectly acceptable to speak negatively about others while they weren't around - especially about whoever I was working for at the time - but also colleagues and coworkers who weren't living up to "my expectations." At its base level, this is gossip and God is clear about what He thinks of this behavior. As God began to convict me of these (and other) sins, maturing me in my walk with and for His Son Jesus, I learned something extraordinary: gossip dishonors God, the target of the gossip, the receivers of the gossip, and me. It's plainly a lose-lose-lose-lose proposition.

What's the answer? It's simpler than it may seem. Under most circumstances, words spoken to describe another should be the same whether they're in the room or not. And, those words should be as objective as possible and as kind as possible. These standards include the times when we seek godly (and discrete) advice about how to approach someone about an issue so that we may resolve it (for example, approaching another leader about how to lead an individual or resolve a problem).

This is something that isn't learned just once, unfortunately. We, as leaders especially, need to practice this principle daily. Why?

1) Gossip creates disunity and separates friends: Proverbs 16:28.

2) It is an attribute uses to describe the depraved (i.e., lost). Romans 1:28-31.

3) Gossip fuels quarrels. Proverbs 26:20.

Plainly, gossip undermines a team. As leaders we need to avoid it ourselves and "nip it" when it comes our way.