It Turns Out, Rumors Have it Right
Today’s New York Times Magazine cites the year’s most interesting ideas, at least a few of which should be interesting to marketing communicators.
I’m fascinated by the study on office rumors by Nicholas DiFonzo asnd Prashant Bordia, professors at the Rochester Institute of Technology and the University of South Australia. According to DiFonzo and Bordia, rumors that circulate around the workplace are usually true. It’s because the rumors that spread the widest are spread when the sources are reliable. Plus it’s easy to cross-check information when you’re in such a defined environment.
What’s it mean for marcommers? It means take office rumors very seriously if you are involved in the management of internal communications. Find out what they are and address them because employees correctly tend to believe them. Never just brush something off as “just a rumor.” Employees are far more savvy than that.
