This week’s dilemma is from Kate – who doesn’t know what to do when people at her work approach her and start to talk about another colleague.

Kate doesn’t want to be involved in the conversation, because she doesn’t want to get involved in office politics.

But she finds it hard when colleagues approach her and simply start confiding their personal thoughts on other members of the team she works in. It’s usually to do with how useless a contribution someone on the team is making.

She wants to get along with everyone in the office, but not if she has to unwillingly take part in office gossip to do so.

She doesn’t want to be rude, but she feels as though she becomes an unwilling backstabbing accomplice when a colleague confides in her about someone else.

What’s a polite way to exit a conversation about someone else – when you don’t feel comfortable with what’s being said – but at the same time you don’t want to put up a barrier between yourself and the person confiding in you, by making them feel as though they’re being judged?