My wife and I enjoy camping. A few years ago, we purchased a lightweight travel trailer that we use during the spring and summer. We go to a variety of state, national, and private parks. People who like to camp tend to be family-oriented, down-home, friendly, and helpful. However, unless you are very organized, you don’t get to pick your neighbors.
On a recent trip, neighbors were engaged in heavy drinking and arguing loudly, which continued until one left. During the ordeal, both parties were throwing the F-bomb throughout. Even after one party left, the other continued with loud conversations. She literally could not speak a sentence without using the F-bomb in one of its many forms. The neighbors on their other side were a couple with young children.
It got me thinking how did the F-bomb become the noun, adjective, and verb of choice for so many people? I have heard it uttered by preschoolers and sweet older women and men. People in all age groups, genders, races, and ethnicities use it. Leaders and employees in all occupations use it.
It seems as if you can’t watch a movie rated above PG-13 without hearing it; you can’t attend a sporting event, fundraiser, party, or other gathering without hearing it. Routine conversations often include it.
So how does this post relate to leadership, business development, or operations, which is what LinkedIn is all about? Here’s how:
First, if you have employees, colleagues, team members, or customers, it is likely that some of them may be offended by vulgar language and the F-bomb, in particular. Swearing and the F-bomb show a lack of consideration and respect for them. In a workforce crisis, most companies need every employee to be motivated, efficient, and effective. Offensive language can negatively affect attitude, team building, and customer deals and relations.
Second, people who rely on the F-bomb as their primary noun, verb, or adjective sound unintelligent. If they use it to be intimidating, funny, shocking, or unique, it usually doesn’t work because people have grown accustomed to it.
If the F-bomb is their best terminology to express anger, resentment, excitement, disappointment, sorrow, or happiness, one may wonder about their competence to represent the company, in a way that matches its stated values. They could be very capable, but some people would not give them the chance to prove it, because they view it as rude, disrespectful, or lacking discretion.
I once heard a colleague say during a delicate meeting, that language choice was important. He was right. Derailing the use of vulgar language in the workplace is a good place to start as you build and manage teams and court customers.
Is this an overreaction or should business practices accept that crude language reflects current society and is appropriate in the workplace? What are your thoughts?