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posted Apr 28, 2010 in Etiquette & Manners / Movies & TV / by Terry Pithers / 4 comments
Donald Trump - F Word in the Board Room
Looks like the Donald has a new f word in the boardroom and it's not “fired”.
Donald Trump is a business person, a tough business person, but we're not used to hearing him use expletives in the boardroom.
Until this season of Celebrity Apprentice.This time around Celebrity Apprentice contestant Sharon Osbourne, wife of Ozzy Osborne the rockstar, has a real potty mouth. We've grown accustomed to hearing her raw profanity edited out and even her lips obscured so you can't "read my lips".
She comes across as a tough cookie. The interesting thing is that the Donald has decided that to emulate or match her toughness he is going to use the same profanitiy.
In our etiquette and image training we often use The Apprentice TV show as examples. More often as examples of what not to do. This is a case in point.
Is foul language appropriate in business? Generally not. The impression it makes make usually undermines your credibility. There may be occasions when we justify use of swearing because of stress or the situation. But using inappropriate language with someone you just met or using the f word because the other person is using it doesn't do anything for your professional image.
Instead of lowering the bar the way Donald Trump did by matching Sharon Osborne's f words, a business person actually comes across as being more in control of the situation by refraining from using obscenities.
Watching Donald Trump's show, The Apprentice, is one of our guilty pleasures.
This season’s Celebrity Apprentice is quite entertaining and enlightening from a business etiquette and image perspective. Click here to see some clips.
About Terry Pithers
The business etiquette expert who helps you become savvy not stuffy. If you are interested in booking me (Terry Pithers) for a presentation, keynote or workshop contact me at terrypithers (at) styleforsuccess.com. Please visit my conference page, too.
4 comments below
...add yoursMay 10, 2010 at 11:23am
Michelle Devlin says:Money or not, I agree with Terry and would prefer people NOT use these kinds of words in business. Your credibility and professionalism rely on it…no matter what industry we’re in.
May 13, 2010 at 12:40pm
Linda says:Using vocabulary like that really demonstrates how little command you have of the English language.
May 14, 2010 at 8:20am
Lara Masse says:Great dialogue. I too am a fan of the Celebrity Apprentice series, and it did [and continues to] surprise me when the profanity shows up. I have to say that I really respect the way in which Donald’s daughter, Ivanka, conducts herself, consistently. And with class. In my view the use of profanity in a business or professional context simply does not work.
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May 08, 2010 at 3:27pm
Linda Maul says:Fascinating - there are many ‘F’ words that my mind focuses on as I read this Terry - fun, future, focus, faulty, funky, etc…but I figure none few of them are the same ‘f’ word you are featuring.
On a more serious note, I am guilty of using that ‘f’ word now and then, but only in the privacy of my home….and I appreciate it when others take the same approach. In fact, I’m embarrassed to hear language like that in the business world as to me it shows lack of understanding of how to demonstrate professionalism and respect.
Maybe if you have as much money as the Donald does, you can get away with it?...or not!