We've all done it, and we've all tried to avoid it. But here's some thoughts.
Next time, someone tries to back-channel talk about someone else stop him / her right there. If they really must vent, let them vent first and listen but don't disagree or agree.
Stop back-channel talking about people not present in the room. Instead do yourself and everyone else a favour and go walk up to the person being "back-channeled" and tell them politely in a constructive-feedback like fashion what the problem is. Chances are that they'll appreciate it.
Customer service is like that as well. Consumers have problems with products and if they never voice them (or the company just doesn't listen...in which case they are doomed anyways), the manufacturer will never know what's wrong and how to fix it. Feedback is the lifeblood of how society works and anyone who tells you otherwise is probably the one being back-channeled right now.
Next time, someone tries to back-channel talk about someone else stop him / her right there. If they really must vent, let them vent first and listen but don't disagree or agree.
Stop back-channel talking about people not present in the room. Instead do yourself and everyone else a favour and go walk up to the person being "back-channeled" and tell them politely in a constructive-feedback like fashion what the problem is. Chances are that they'll appreciate it.
Customer service is like that as well. Consumers have problems with products and if they never voice them (or the company just doesn't listen...in which case they are doomed anyways), the manufacturer will never know what's wrong and how to fix it. Feedback is the lifeblood of how society works and anyone who tells you otherwise is probably the one being back-channeled right now.
