*;!#y business !!!!
Published January 18, 2008 at 2:09 pm · Filed under Features
Why bad language is good for business
If your reaction to stress in the office is to swear loudly, don’t worry. According to researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA), swearing at work is nothing to worry about: in fact it may even be good for morale.
In an article in the Leadership and Organization Development Journal (Vol 28 Issue 6, pages 492-507), Prof Yehuda Baruch, professor of management at the UEA-based Norwich Business School (NBS), and graduate Stuart Jenkins argue that swearing can help build relationships at work and foster solidarity amongst workers.
Professor Baruch argues that swearing should be tolerated as long as it is not offensive and is not used in front of customers and senior managers and that it should only be banned where it generates greater levels of stress it.
He said: “Our study (Swearing at work and permissive leadership culture: when anti-social becomes social and incivility is acceptable) suggested that in many cases, taboo language serves the needs of people for developing and maintaining solidarity, and as a mechanism to cope with stress. Banning it could backfire.”
There’s more to politics than backstabbing
One of psychotherapist Lucy Beresford's tips for avoiding office rage (see Canon story above) is not to get involved in office politics. However,
executive search and selection consultancy Hitchenor Wakeford Group argues that an ability to ‘play politics' is essential for those who want to
move up the corporate ladder.
CEO Adrian Hitchenor said: "The harsh reality is that having technical skill simply isn't enough to excel these days and ambitious execs need
to hone their political skills, too. As business becomes more competitive, today's leaders need to be able to forge external partnerships,
promote their organisation's reputation, influence key decision makers and mitigate risks - all of which requires political skill."
He added: "Switched on executives need to understand the external environment in which their business operates.
They need to be aware of the competition, regulation and trade agreements, media interest and public opinion affecting their sector.
They also need knowledge of the strategic context of any partnerships or alliances their organisation develops.
They must develop an appreciation for how power blocs operate, both internally and externally. All of this requires political skill.
In today's business environment, no company or individual can act in isolation."
Hitchenor draws a distinction between these skills and the traditional view of office politics.
"Only the ignorant and weak still think politicking is about protecting their turf or pursuing personal advantage," he said.
"Politics in the workplace is no longer about back-stabbing your colleagues to get ahead. It's about working for the greater
good, and the individuals who do this are the ones who will get noticed and succeed."
