Often in coaching sessions, I am asked what’s wrong about gossiping or criticising others behind their backs. My advice is never to do so – thinking well and speaking well of others keeps oneself clean, let alone others. But it seems Socrates was there before me!

The Triple-Filter Test

In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and said, “Do you know what I just heard about your friend?”

“Hold on a minute,” Socrates replied. “Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you’re going to say. That’s why I call it the triple filter test. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?”

“Well no, I havent’!” said the acquaintance.

“All right,” said Socrates. “So you don’t really know if it’s true or not. Now, let’s try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?”

“Umm, no, on the contrary…”

“So,” Socrates continued, “you want to tell me something bad about my friend, but you’re not certain it’s true. You may still pass the test

though, because there’s one filter left-the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?”

“No, not really.”

“Well,” concluded Socrates, “if what you want to tell me is neither true, nor good, nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?

Gossiping, bad mouthing, criticising or even passing on bad news or views creates an environment of distrust and suspicion. It breaks down relationships and good standards of ethics and professionalism. Given an opportunity to do it – just don’t!

By Penny Sophocleous©

Chief Executive, Corporate Alchemy