Three Career Killers You Must Avoid: Gossiping, Emotional Outbursts,
and Oversharing

In any professional setting, your reputation is one of your most valuable assets. While hard work and skill are critical, it’s often the way you show up and handle yourself that determines whether you’ll thrive—or stall—in your career. There are three specific behaviors that can quietly but powerfully undermine your professional success: gossiping in the office, emotional outbursts, and oversharing personal information.

Here’s how each of these can harm your career and, more importantly, how to avoid falling into these traps.

1. Gossiping in the Office

Gossip might feel harmless in the moment — just sharing stories or “venting” with coworkers — but it’s a slippery slope. If someone gossips to you, rest assured they will gossip about you. Engaging in office gossip damages trust, fuels negativity, and can make you appear unprofessional or disloyal. Worse, when leadership hears about it (and they usually do), your judgment and maturity may come into question.

How to Avoid It:

Extricate Yourself Gracefully: If a coworker starts gossiping, pivot the conversation. You might say, “I’m really focused on finishing this project” or “I’d rather not get into that.” Change the subject to something neutral or work-related.

Be a Role Model: Keep your conversations positive and constructive. Avoid contributing to rumors, even when others are participating.

Know the Risk: Remind yourself that gossip rarely stays contained — it travels. Protect your reputation by staying out of it entirely.

By steering clear of gossip, you position yourself as someone trustworthy, professional, and focused on the right things.

2. Emotional Outbursts

Work can be stressful, and emotions can run high — but losing control in the workplace can do real long-term damage. An emotional outburst, whether it’s bullying, yelling, crying, or storming off, signals to colleagues and supervisors that you may not be able to handle pressure or difficult situations. Worse, it can erode trust, especially if you’re in a leadership role or aspire to be. People need to know they can rely on you to remain composed, even in challenging moments, regardless of their personal situations.

How to Avoid It:

Pause Before Reacting: If you feel emotions rising, take a moment to step back. Excuse yourself to gather your thoughts or take a few deep breaths before responding.

Develop Coping Tools: Practice techniques like mindfulness, journaling, or regular exercise to manage stress outside of work. This is crucial. Building emotional resilience makes it easier to stay calm under pressure.

Seek Feedback: If you know emotional control is a challenge, put your ego and any defensiveness aside and seek honest feedback from a trusted mentor, colleague, or coach to identify patterns and improve.

Emotional control isn’t about suppressing feelings; it’s about responding thoughtfully, not reactively. The ability to stay calm and collected is a hallmark of true leadership.

3. Oversharing Personal Information

It’s natural to want to connect with coworkers, and sharing small details can help build rapport. However, oversharing personal stories or struggles is risky. While you may trust certain colleagues, the reality is that discretion in the workplace is not guaranteed. Personal information can quickly spread, be misinterpreted, or even be used against you, harming your reputation and credibility.

How to Avoid It:

Know Your Boundaries: Decide in advance what topics are off-limits at work—financial troubles, relationship issues, or health struggles, for example. Keep those conversations for trusted friends and family.

Share Selectively: If you do share, be thoughtful about what you share and with whom. Ask yourself, “Is this something I’d want everyone in the office to know?”

Keep it Professional: Focus conversations on work, industry news, or neutral topics. You can build strong relationships without revealing your entire personal life.

Remember, while you may feel the urge to “vent” or seek comfort at work, it’s safer to keep personal matters private. Protect your reputation by maintaining professional boundaries.

The Bottom Line

Gossip, emotional outbursts, and oversharing may seem like small missteps, but they can have outsized consequences. People remember these behaviors, and they shape how others perceive you and your growth potential. By steering clear of gossip, maintaining emotional control, and keeping personal details private, you project confidence, professionalism, and leadership — the key qualities that pave the way for long-term success.

Helping you Thrive,

Judy

Founder, Selby Strategies

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