Trait transferance: Why gossip can kill your career

Susan* was the office kvetch. She had an opinion about everything. Her manager’s inability to lead. Her cubemate’s pettiness. The receptionist’s immature lifestyle. And she loved to tell anyone that would listen about it.

You may guess that Susan wasn’t the most respected employee in the office, and you might pin it on a negative attitude or lack of team orientation. But there’s a psychological phenomenon that speaks more strongly about how Susan will be perceived — it’s called trait transferance.

Trait transferance goes against logic, but researchers say it’s a common occurrence. In trait transferance, when a speaker says something about another person, the traits that they describe will actually rub off on the speaker.

So, when Susan said her boss couldn’t lead, she was perceived as being less of a leader. The more Susan insists on her cubemate’s pettiness, the more petty Susan appears.

This is counter to what many professionals think. Often, people think by being able to share constructive criticism for their peers, managers or organizations, that they’re showing off critical thinking skills. But really, they’re taking a risk with their own image.

Luckily, trait transferance works on the positive side as well. By praising your peers as brilliant, dynamic, or reliable, you’ll be perceived more positively.

So what Mom said is really true. If you don’t have anything nice to say, do yourself a favor. Keep your trap shut.

photo credit: stevendepolo

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