Day: July 14, 2020

Trust me, I am by no means holier than thou, nor am I easily offended by profanity. I believe in freedom of speech and I am capable of tolerating a wide range of language used in the workplace from direct reports, peers and even superiors, be it expressions of frustration, hurt or anger.

In the daily news we are witnessing world leaders using offensive, childish rhetoric and divisive language to demonstrate their power and presumed superiority, inclusive of name-calling of opponents.

My expertise does not lie in politics, but rather in the corporate world and its upper levels of management, and I’m considered an expert in communication, training and adult learning. So I was wondering, in times of increased sensitivity to what people consider offensive, how do we deal with inappropriate language in the workplace, especially when it comes straight from the top?

Many years ago, I was working in a company whose CEO dropped the f-bomb in every other sentence. Those are a lot of swearwords at the highest level of the organization. How did he manage the interview process and persuade the board of directors that he was the best person to lead that business? The only logical answer I could come up with was that an inclusive corporate culture was not high on the priority list.

If you are currently working for a medium to large organization, chances are that you are undergoing annual sensitivity training presented by Human Resources and intended to minimize the company’s legal exposure and liability. It may include guidance and words of caution related to racial slurs, religion, sexual orientation, etc.

Where did things go wrong along the way that adults need to be told right from wrong?

Growing up in Germany, offensive words were not part of my family’s vocabulary. My mother’s generation was still keen on threatening to wash our mouths out with soap. These days I observe parents when they have the occasional “slip of the tongue” in front of their children, and ask them to put on the proverbial “ear muffs” or immediately correct themselves and tell those impressionable little humans to do as they say, not as they do.

I consider myself an aficionado of languages. The power of words, when used correctly, is endless; the nuances and subtleties one can express are infinite. The words of a leader should be empowering, uplifting and elevating. I speak English, German and French, and while I might be able to curse like a sailor in three languages, I choose not to. I have too much respect for my co- workers and subordinates. And as a role model, I prefer for my teams to do as I DO, and as I say.