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Nowadays swear words hold less of a taboo and it's not uncommon for you to hear the F-bomb dropped multiple times over a working day. However, there are very good reasons why swearing should be kept to a minimum in the workplace.
People who continually swear look like they are out of control. After a while they become predictable and in the long term, largely ignored or disregarded.
Occasional swearing
Putting your hand on a red hot radiator may cause you to curse. Telling the occasional blue joke will give your colleagues a giggle. These are perfectly allowable lapses in the workplace.
Sometimes, a well directed swear word can even create a positive response and let it be known to all that this is an important issue that requires a passionate response.
However, frequency and overuse will reduce your status and diminish your power to command respect from others. The fact is, swearing too often simply erodes credibility.
Swearing is a self perpetuating phenomenon; the more someone in a group swears, the more others follow suit and soon the air if full of F's, B's, C's and all the other unmentionables.
More aggressive swearing
Shouting profanities and hurling expletives at people is a highly unsettling experience for those around you. Whilst it may make you feel better for a few fleeting moments, it can also be totally destructive and counter-productive.
Swearing may seem harmless but when someone resorts to continuous swearing, especially at others, the workplace will eventually disintegrate.
You may work in a high pressure environment where swearing is the norm, but if you look around you, those who demand the most admiration and respect, probably don't do it.
Resorting to swearing at others to win arguments or make a point means you probably have lost control of the situation, and yourself.
Bleeping yourself
If you are in the habit of swearing too often you need to instantly start efforts to find out why and to put a stop to it.
Firstly, accept it as a problem. Excessive swearing could be a pointer to a lack of confidence or ability. You may simply have got into the habit to help you cope.
Usually, people swear when they are angry. Rather than just keep a lid on your anger, try to actively calm down. Take a breathing or meditation course and analyse why you are always blowing your top.
Try to go a whole day without a swear word, and then two days and then longer. It could be that the swear words are actually leading your bad temper and not vice versa. A swear jar with a £1 fine for every expletive is a good way of visualising and monetising your lapses.
A trick that many parents will know is substituting swear words. Try to eliminate or gradually replace your swearing with other words. Try a theme such as fruits to make it fun. Shouting 'watermelon' or 'cranberry' out might make you look weird, but remember that you're winning an important internal battle.