Best way to avoid Office Gossip

Here are three common political problems in the workplace and tips for handling each situation.
Q: I would like to avoid the office rumor mill, but people always try roping me into gossipy conversations. How should I handle this?
A: Water cooler chatter can be both helpful and harmful. The trick is recognizing when to listen and when to cut and run. On the positive side, the office grapevine can help you learn about your organization's unwritten rules of the road; so it's wise to keep yourself in the information loop. There's nothing wrong with listening as long as you don't fan the rumor's flames or act on unsubstantiated information.
Walk away when the gossip involves non-business-related topics or mean-spirited mudslinging.

Q: I'm a loyal employee and a hard worker, but my boss plays favorites and always gives the plum assignments to a particular co-worker. What can I do?
A: Before crying foul, communicate to your supervisor your interest in taking on additional responsibility. Your manager might simply be waiting for you to step up and show initiative. If you've already clearly expressed your aspirations, ask your boss about the specific steps you need to take to land higher profile assignments.

Q: One of my colleagues seems like she's out to get me. Whenever possible, she does something to make me look bad. How should I respond?
A: One option is to pull the person aside and ask her about her troubling actions. Focus on the facts and offer her an opportunity to explain her side of the story.

If you feel confronting your co-worker is futile, document her behavior, collecting concrete evidence supporting your claims and making note of how your performance was adversely affected. Then, bring the matter to your manager's attention in an objective, professional manner.