A Sales Guy Is it Bull Shit when Public Speakers Swear?

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Robin Dickenson over at Radsmarts, posed a killer question; Is it OK for public speakers to swear?

This question has been ruminating in my head for awhile. Not just the question of profanity, but the idea of a reduced sense of formality; swearing in blogs, wearing jeans in the work place, access to authority, etc.

Are we becoming a less formal country and is that OK?

My thoughts are yes and YES!!!

The formality of this country has been steeped in its Puritan ethic, going all the way back to the first day the Pilgrims stepped onto Plymouth rock. It has dictated our behavior for 400 years. In my opinion, it has stunted innovation, communication, collaboration and engagement. It has created social hierarchies and limited the spread of information and ideas. Formality, is a social contract that says; “I will act a certain way until a particular level of engagement or interaction has been established” OR worse, the formality is the result of a hierarchical structure. It says; I will act a certain way because of WHO you are.

I say BULL SHIT!

The erosion of formal social contracts is accelerating interaction. It is getting to the core of issues. It’s not shackling ideas. It’s calling out the elephant on the table. It’s cutting to the chase. It’s getting real.

Professional speakers dropping F-bombs that enhance authentic, real, presentations where the swearing brings value is exactly what we need. Gratuitous swearing does none of this and therefore I’m not a fan.

I’d like to see greater erosion of social formality. It allow people to focus on the message. Informality puts people at ease. We let down our guard. It allows us to quickly assess our environment. Asking; is this a person I want to spend time with? Is this a message that resonates with me? Not, who is the person really. Are we still being formal? What do they REALLY think? Can I say what I want now? Can I be me?

Enough with the formality. Let’s get right to it. Let’s open the flood gates. If you are a swearer, then let em fly in your presentations. As Nick comments in the post: Be who you are, swears and all.

I think that people should be themselves on stage no matter what. If they swear a lot while talking normally, then they should swear on stage. AUTHENTIC speakers grab my attention, not their cuss words. -Nick Campbell

http://flatratewebjobs.com/ Genuine Chris Johnson

Funny stuff. it's what happened when I made http://ftherapybook.com. Yano? Swearing Worked for me…
davebrock

Interesting post Jim, I agree and disagree. I'm all for authenticity, I'm also for being who you are. However, if what we do, for example, swearing makes our customers uncomfortable or detracts from our ability to connect with them, are we being as effective as we can be?

Where does consideration and respect for our customers, client, and the people we deal with fit? I wear pin strip suits, white shirts, nice ties with many customers (yes even today), because it is part of their culture and what they respect. If I dressed in my normal jeans and ripped tee shirt, it would detract from my ability to accomplish something with them, they would be so distracted, we wouldn't be able to focus on what they need.

Isn't part of being customer focused improving your ability to connect with them, focusing on where they are at, and helping them be comfortable in the relationship?

Doing this doesn't sacrifice authenticity, but does improve what we accomplish with our customers.

We could say, “this is the way I am, I won't change for anyone,” and then accept the consequences of this. But that may limit me to working with people just like me—which is awfully boring—and limits my ability to grow as well as my ability to accomplish what I would like, for myself and my customers.
http://asalesguy.com Keenan

David,

Your point of not offending is a good one, however I think there is a
difference between offending and not doing things that will enhance a
situation for “fear” of offending or to uphold an antiquated sense
formality.

I rarely wear suit and ties anymore, because my customers have asked
me not too, as it makes them feel uncomfortable. The don't were
them. When it comes to a known culture respect is paramount.
Beyond that I think it's not so black and white.

Rater R, Rated PG-13 movies are watched by millions of people a year,
100's of millions. They are laced with profanity and we aren't
offended. I contend the “offense” comes from the unexpectedness of
it. It's unexpected because traditional formality has said public
presentations are not OK for profanity.

It's not the swearing but wear it comes from that offends us. The
formality of our society has dictated that for quite sometime.

EX: Few people are offended by profanity at the movies. Why?
Because they expect it.
southwellj

Interesting thought. I don't agree it's the difference between authentic and false. To me, cussing is lazy. It's an inability or unwillingness to express yourself without reaching for expletive, not a measure authenticity. We all use different language to convey our message. I use a basic vocabulary with my kids, a broad vocabulary with my family, a technical vocabulary with my clients and a very informal vocabulary with my wife and close friends. I'm authentic with each conversation, I'm just aware of the the words I use and their potential affect on my audience.

Now, do I care when people cuss in front of me? No. But caring isn't the issue, it's effectiveness. Enough cussing and I start to think less of the person and their intelligence. In the same way that a person who uses the same metaphor over and over, I feel that the person who reverts to profanity is just limited in their vocabulary and likely their intellect.
http://asalesguy.com Keenan

If swearing is part of ones normal lexicon? Is it not then in
inauthentic to change your speak?
http://www.facebook.com/jerrylkennedy Jerry Kennedy

Hmmm…got me thinking on this one. Honestly, I don't think there's one right answer. It's definitely situational.

If you're speaking to the First Presbyterian Annual Ladies' Luncheon, you might want to keep the F-bombs in check even if that is your normal mode of speech. Your desire to be “authentic” will be overshadowed by the offense you give. If you're talking to an audience of seasoned sales pros, you're chances of giving offense with profanity are pretty slim: even if they don't use profanity themselves, they've probably heard it all and it won't even register in their minds. (One wonders what to do when speaking to an audience of sales reps AT the First Presbyterian Annual Ladies' Luncheon…all bets are off!)

I say get to know your audience. You'll probably have a pretty good idea of the makeup of the audience ahead of time; take that into consideration.

And as for the idea that toning down your language somehow makes the presentation less “authentic”, I say BULLSHIT!! Remember: in public speaking, it's not about you; it's about them (your audience).
http://asalesguy.com Keenan

If you are toning down the swearing JUST for the audience, isn't that
inauthentic?

I understand the importance if you want to avoid offending, BUT many
times it's expected formality that creates the offense not the language.

Few folks are offended when cussing happens at the movies. Why at a
public speaking event?

We used to be insulted, if not offended, when people didn't wear
suites to the office. Now, it's the other way around.

Where do you think the line is between true offense and disruptive
surprise by ignoring formality?
http://www.facebook.com/jerrylkennedy Jerry Kennedy

It's not inauthentic…it's polite. Maybe just my opinion, but it's just good manners to wait until you know how the person you're talking to feels about swearing before you commence dropping F-bombs. Some little old ladies don't care, but some truck drivers do.

I agree that it's silly for adults to get bent out of shape over a little word, but as a professional speaker and/or salesperson, I need to care more about how they feel than about how I feel. It just makes sense to me.
http://www.aaronklein.com/ AaronKlein

I was going to leave a simple two word comment, but social formality stopped me from doing so.
http://asalesguy.com Keenan

LOL, Aaron.
http://www.aaronklein.com/ AaronKlein

I was going to leave a simple two word comment, but social formality stopped me from doing so.
http://asalesguy.com Keenan

LOL, Aaron.

Is it Bull Shit when Public Speakers Swear?

Keenan 411

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