Should Profanity ever be used in Business Communicatons
Profanity should never be used in business communications. Regardless of the scope of a business, professionalism should be the utmost focus. No one should be embarrassed or ashamed by what is heard or read on the job.
With the growing use of the cell phone and Nextel in the business community, overhearing business communications is a given. Hearing two co-workers cursing over the phone, while discussing a procedure, is not what I have in mind when I go to the store. It is disrespectful to others around you, and gives a bad name to the company.
Often business men/women forget they are sharing their conversation with the world, when they use Nextel. Everyone around them can hear their ranting and raving. That is why any type of business communications should always be handled in the strictest professional manner. It is too easy to let your guard down, only to notice a small child is standing next to you, while you are spitting profanities out at your boss.
Written communication should have the same professionalism as if you were speaking to the management in person. There is a false sense of protection when writing communication, often it is felt that no one else will see what you have written. All of a sudden, your rude memo full of bad language is on the desk of the vice president. The potential is high for that memo to find its way to a vendor, stockholder, or even a new client.
It is important for people to have fun at work and I support that one hundred percent. However, I think it is best done in private away from customers, both internal and external. It would be a terrible thing to have an inside joke be overheard or even misinterpreted. Such incidents could cause loss of business and possibly loss of ones job.
Business is a competitive world. It is very easy for a potential client or long time customer to take their business somewhere else. Do not give someone an excuse to do that because of your lack of judgment in the use of profanity in his or her presence.
The rule of thumb is to be professional in a professional setting. Have fun on your own time away from the business. Never do anything to jeopardize your job or the business; it is just not worth it. Never let your guard down to acting professional, save it for when you are off the clock.
