In meetings, on podcasts, in posts, and even in boardrooms, profanity, especially words like “fuck”, has become increasingly common. For some, it signals authenticity or emphasis. For others, it’s a verbal shortcut. But there’s a growing question worth asking:
What is this habit doing to the quality of our speech and to how we’re perceived?
1. Profanity Replaces Precision
Strong language often steps in where clearer thinking should lead. When we rely on swear words to express frustration, excitement, or urgency, we trade specificity for shock value. Over time, this weakens our ability to articulate nuance, emotion, and reasoning.
In professional settings, precision is power. Vague intensity is not.
2. It Shrinks, Not Expands, Credibility
While some argue that swearing makes leaders sound “real,” context matters. Frequent profanity can undermine authority, distract from the message, and alienate parts of the audience, especially in diverse, global workplaces where norms differ.
Credibility grows when your words carry weight on their own.
3. It Becomes a Verbal Crutch
Like filler words (“um,” “you know”), habitual swearing often signals discomfort with silence or complexity. Instead of pausing to think, we reach for a word that fills space and emotion instantly.
Strong communicators are comfortable with pauses and choosing better words. To master the art of pause, practise with the app 4Ps, Power, Pitch, Pace, Pause.
A Better Challenge
This isn’t about moralising or policing speech. It’s about raising the bar.
Can we express urgency without profanity?
Can we show passion without shock?
Can we disagree forcefully and still sound composed?
The answer is yes, and the result is stronger speech, clearer thinking, and greater influence. Words matter; choose them carefully.
Warmly
Olga Smith