Post by Jane K. Stimmler, contributing Women on Business writer
There’s been a great deal of buzz lately about Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz, who was recently fired. Her apparent fondness for “salty language,” as it has been described, has been a big part of the conversation. The premise put forward is that her profane language is being called out because she’s a woman and her behavior is unexpected, therefore it’s more noticeable. Implicit in the articles I’ve read is the notion that it’s wrong to make Bartz’ blunt language an issue because she’s a woman. But really, isn’t the more important issue that prolific swearing in the workplace is just offensive and unnecessary no matter what the gender of the leader?
Deborah Tannen, author of the book “You Just Don’t Understand: Women and Men in Conversation,” said “The attention devoted to Bartz’s candor, profane or otherwise, reflects the double-bind faced by women in the business world, especially those in high positions. If women talk in ways expected of them or project a feminine demeanor, it’s seen as weak. But if they talk in ways associated with men or bosses, then they’re seen as too aggressive. Whatever they do violates one or the other expectation, either you’re not talking as you should as a woman or as boss.”
In principle, I agree with Ms. Tannen, yet I think she misses the point. Women certainly have a lot of barriers to overcome in workplace communication, and in many cases they are walking a fine line in trying to develop the right tone, especially in historically male workplace cultures. We have very different communication styles from men and are frequently misunderstood and maligned. But since when is swearing an appropriate way of communicating in a work environment?
No matter what the specific standards of a workplace, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where communication routinely includes profanity. Work is not the place to vent, offend others or display anger. In fact, just the opposite. Communication should be strategic, well thought out and mindful of the audience.
I can only think that Carol Bartz must have had skills and strengths that Yahoo needed, and that the company accepted her and overlooked her communication failings as part of the territory – at least until recently.
What do you think? Please share!
People in power are free to say F*** and they do it all the time. I’ve never been in a work environment in which cursing is entirely absent.
No one should curse at another person, but that’s not the only use of the word.
On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, opposing counsel sends you notice of a hearing scheduled for the Monday after Thanksgiving which means you have to work on the holiday weekend.
“Darn” just doesn’t express it.
See my post The Case for Cursing here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/shenegotiates/2011/09/16/the-case-for-cursing/
While I agree that Tannen’s premise is true–people expect different language from women and men in the workplace–I also agree with you that foul language really has no place. It either shows the person is trying to control another, offend them to shut them up, or that they have a limited vocabulary. I have one client that likes to use rough language when we’re talking (it’s a man), and I do find it offensive…however, I find a simple “mother/teacher” stare over the glasses usually changes his mode of talking.
I think there’s some boundary issues here too. We do get to stand up and say, “Those words offend me and I don’t believe they’re appropriate in this situation.” A lesson the board of Yahoo could have heeded well before there was a need to fire Ms. Bartz.
While I believe that everyone will swear once in a while (I certainly do!), there’s a difference between saying “F*&^” in the situation Vickie described and using cursing to intimidate or make people uncomfortable. And if curse words or vulger language is the only thing people can use to express themselves, they aren’t getting their message across very well.