02.06.06 Workplace Gossip Is Not Necessarily Gospel Truth – Manage It (Orig Ng 10)

10. The Mismanaged Venom

“Good morning”, the waiter smiled welcomingly as she led me to my usual convenient spot by the beach.  It was a quiet Saturday morning and, considering how busy I had been during the week, this combination of fresh air, cool breeze and the display of the sun rising over the lake was what any fatigued career woman would need.  But ‘relaxation’ was not the reason I was here so early.  To the contrary, I was anxiously waiting for my friend Hawa, who had called me the night before.  She had been so upset that we agreed to meet first thing the following morning.  “I will be punctual”, she had promised; and sure to her word, she arrived soon thereafter.

No longer had she sat down when she disclosed, “Joy, I have decided to close my salon business and move back to the village”.  “What?” I responded with disbelief; “…then, what happens to you and the children…?”  I was shocked, since the salon was her only income earner.  As I leaned over in shocked anticipation, she narrated her story.

Some five years ago, Hawa who was a secretary for a certain firm, had started a small salon to compliment her meagre salary.  The beginning had been quite a challenge, as she had to juggle her job, home duties as a single mother of four, and the salon.  But with one hairdresser Feni, combined with Hawa’s talented hands, the salon had grown in no time.  

But something unexpected had happened a while later.  Apparently, Hawa’s employer had offered some workers the opportunity for early retirement with a handsome package attached to it.  Hawa had accepted the offer, investing the monies into her promising salon.  In fact, the financial boost had propelled her to shift the business to one of the high streets in the city.  

Round about the same time, another breakthrough had come when Hawa hired Sandi, a young beautiful hairdresser whose parents had just relocated from the United States.  Apparently, the girl had studied ‘beauty’ and had actually been working in a reputable salon abroad.  

But Hawa’s decision had been met with some resistance from her old employee Feni who claimed that Sandi’s ideas were too foreign.  Nonetheless, the girl was so gifted that each customer she ‘touched’ was extremely delighted with the result.  Soon, high profile wealthy women had started flocking into the salon; with many choosing Sandi for their beauty regimens.  In fact, it had become common for such ladies to prefer waiting until Sandi was free; rather than being ‘touched’ by Feni and the others.  

Hawa was openly impressed with Sandi, showering her with well-deserved appreciation and recognition.  But unfortunately, that had not gone well with Sandi’s colleagues, particularly Feni who had been the ‘star of the game’ before Sandi arrived on the scene.

Hawa vividly remembered the day when Feni had lingered around after the rest of the hairdressers had left; claiming that she had some important information to convey to Hawa.  Forthwith, Feni had instigated that Sandi was the type to start her own salon, giving a lot of malicious reasons to back her opinion.  

Since that day, Hawa had contemplated Feni’s warning so deeply that she had gradually started to be suspicious of Sandi.  Thence, Hawa had started wooing her clients to consider Feni and others as good alternatives to Sandi.  Soon it became obvious that Sandi was not in the boss’ good books any more.  

Then, one morning, Sandi called Hawa that she would not make it to work as she had malaria.  And since Hawa had already harboured so much filth against the girl, she decided to terminate Sandi’s employment.  Sandi’s pleas for reconsideration had fallen on deaf ears.

However, a month thereafter, another high class salon opened just a few blocks away from Hawa’s facility.  And Sandi was offered a job there.  Soon, customers who had been asking for Sandi discovered that the girl was working at the new salon.  An exodus had followed as customers shifted from Hawa’s to the new joint.  Sadly, this had continued to the point that Hawa was now receiving only a trickle of customers; and the revenue was no longer enough to meet the high rent bills and other operational expenses.  Under the circumstances, there was no option but to close down!

As I consoled Hawa, I pondered over her predicament; and how it was too late to reverse the situation at that ‘mid-night hour’.  Obviously, she had played with a golden opportunity; and had lost it.

This story reminds us of the damage that mismanaged malicious rumours can create in the workplace.  

Bosses should never take rumours as gospel truth, prior to checking them out thoroughly.  And even then, decisions should be taken only after one has weighed out the benefits against the costs.  

Rumours can trigger a cycle which could be irreversible if not properly handled.  As was the case for Hawa, they could bear the venom that kills one’s business.  Therefore, stand warned!