People’s emotions at work are often influenced by their bosses and colleagues, especially by their immediate supervisors. How do you feel if your supervisor likes to swear? Research has shown that such behavior from supervisors generally lowers employee satisfaction, although some employees may not mind.
Professors Alexandros Psychogios from Loughborough University in the UK and Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Portugal wrote in The Conversation that employees react differently to their supervisor’s use of vulgar language.
Although some people may enjoy it or not care, such behavior can be seen as a sign of poor leadership and lack of professionalism, which is unnecessary.
Their study of 5,660 employees in 19 countries found that people’s reactions to supervisors who swear depend not only on the actual words used but also on who is listening and where they live.
The researchers found that there is no one “correct” way for leaders to communicate. However, overall, employee satisfaction is lower when supervisors frequently use swear words. Therefore, if you are considering using profanity as a management strategy in meetings, it is best not to do so.
Interestingly, some people had a different response in the study. Those with strong psychopathic and Machiavellian personality traits tended to have higher satisfaction with leaders who swear more. They believe that bosses who swear may appear more authentic, confident, and less bound by unnecessary rules.
On the other hand, employees with strong narcissistic traits, who believe they deserve special privileges and crave admiration from others, showed surprisingly indifferent reactions. Swearing did not leave a lasting impression or offend them significantly, with almost no change in their satisfaction with the supervisor.
In addition to personality, the country someone is in also plays a role. In societies with higher income equality like Sweden and Austria, personality differences are more pronounced. This means that the same supervisor using the same vulgar language may be seen as approachable by one employee and lacking professionalism by another.
However, in countries with lower income equality like South Africa and Mexico, these personality differences almost disappear. Regardless of individual traits, employees’ reactions to leaders using vulgar language are generally negative.
The scholars explained that research on economic inequality suggests that in societies with larger income gaps, people are more sensitive to rank and status. With a heavier emphasis on hierarchy in the workplace, swearing by leaders is less likely to be interpreted as friendly or sincere but more as a display of dominance.
For leaders, the practical message is simple—communication is not just about the words chosen. The same sentence can inspire one employee, offend another, and leave a third unaffected.
So, should leaders completely avoid swearing? The scholars suggest not necessarily. However, they should understand that effective leadership is not about finding a one-size-fits-all communication style. It’s about knowing your audience and choosing your words wisely with your team.
Speaking of supervisors, regardless of whether they swear or not, their leadership styles vary—some are democratic, some are dictatorial; some are progressive, some are conservative. So, how can you tell if a supervisor is good and whether they can improve team productivity based on their actions and words?
American workplace expert and author of the bestselling book “Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant,” Lynn Taylor, previously wrote in Psychology Today that humility is a key attribute that determines whether a supervisor is good or bad. Supervisor humility can enhance employee engagement and satisfaction.