15 May,2009 07:52 AM IST | | Soumya Mukerji
Hollywood star Julia Roberts hurled the F-bomb over and over at a New York event held recently. iTALK tells you if it's okay to ape the potty... err... pretty woman's ways
New books like Throwing Sheep in the Boardroom may seem to explain how almost anything works when it
Julia Roberts let her language loose at a recent do held in honour of Cast Away star Tom Hanks, attracting much flak from media and fans. Onlookers, including the pout-perfect Charlize Theron, couldn't help but laugh their guts out at the free flow of F-derivatives.
While most of us have sourced abuses freely while in a professional setting, there are chiefs who say they'd fire anyone caught repeatedly spouting colourful language. Here's a quick guide to smart tongue leashing tricks.
Your celeb non-role model, and what she said
Julia Roberts,
Hollywood star
"Alright well, it's late and I'm paying my babysitter overtime and I have to pee," she began. "So Tom, everybody f-----g likes you. All my bits are gone. Listen, I had lunch today with Rita [Wilson, Tom Hanks' wife], and her t--s were here [motioned high] and her waist was here [motioned small] and heru00a0a was like that [motioned high], so what can I tell you that's new? Tom Hanks , what the f--k?"
As boss, I don't abuse. Will do away with those who do
Puja Nayyar,
designer-entrepreneur
Abuses rarely work. No one has the time and energy to deal with fury. Most professional settings are high-stress ridden anyway. Tolerance levels have dropped, and I wouldn't take this nonsense from anyone.
It takes just one wrong move to lose contacts, and what you say and how you say is important.
It's tough to define what's abusive, what's not
Saptarshi Das, management professional
Besides getting work done, employees need to make sure emotions are kept within a normal bandwidth. It's tough to define what's abusive. Sometimes, small talk, insults, strong sarcasm could also be seen as abusive, although they could be harmless. A professional environment, relations that inhabit it and hierarchy that rules it should not be affected by verbal tiffs.
But, profanities can cut stress!
A study of leadership styles by Norwich's University of East Anglia (UEA) found that use of "taboo language" boosted team spirit. Professor Yehuda Baruch warned that attempts to prevent workers from swearing could have a negative impact on productivity and spirit. Now, there's a Facebook group called "Swearing at work boosts productivity and profits" headed by a certain Dan Rowley, who claims to be the "CEO of Swearing F'''ing Industries PLC Ltd."!
Office would turn into a swear-field
Amit Chakraborty, senior software engineer
Abusive language is far from acceptable in a professional environment. Everyone will end up foulmouthing others, turning the office into a swear-field. There are more rational ways of expressing anger.
Corporate guru says
Choose mild over wild
Jaspreet Alagh,
director, Core Excellence
Sometimes, you just can't control the itch to say "sc'''ed up" or better still, "f'''ed up" but it's important to try not to go over-the-top with vulgar vocab warns Jaspreet Alagh, director, Core Excellence corporate training.
Unacceptable in formal circle
It's 100% unacceptable in formal and public circles. What you neeed to remember is that you could be a role model for some. Often, uttering an abuse isn't deliberate, so, you need to observe and watch what you say out of office too.
Okay with chaddi buddies
It's okay when you are around friends, and even colleagues who are more like friends. What you need to ensure is that you need to strike an understanding that no offfence is meant.
Avoidable before seniors
When around business partners or seniors (in designation and age), steer clear of colourful language. It's a misguided perception that it's cool to abuse. Westerners have a certain idea about our traditions, and that makes it all the more tough for them to digest abuse from us.
Adopt our smart swearing guide
>> Adopt a few words from various languages French, German, Swahili no one will know what you are blabbering, and you get to vent your frustration anyway.
>> Original, funny, vent-out phrases work better than harsh abuses, and add to creativity. How about: "Forget the account piles, you are fit to deal in dung piles!"?
>> Use similar sounding words, not the actual ones. The message gets across, crudeness doesn't.
>> Devise acronyms; explain only if the victim insists.
>> Try mental abusing. The eyes convey more wrath than you think they do.
>> Crass, colloquial and vernacular swears should be avoided, unless you are in the mood for serious disciplinary action.
Surviving swears: That's easy. Request, repeat, and report to your HR department, but that's only if you've tried other means. Don't be a prickly poppy everyone will handle with mittens.
Professions most notorious for ''#$%'!(@ingu00a0
>> Advertising, client servicing. > Hospitality > Media > Sales and marketing
Celebs who've gone OTT:
>> Pop singer Britney Spears > Bollywood actor Salman Khan > Item girl Rakhi Sawant > Bhojpuri item girl Sambhavna Seth
