Sat, July 31, 2010 - 9:12:33

Goldman Sachs Bans Cursing in Emails

Some of you may remember a scientific study released last year which found that swearing can actually be good for you—when it comes to alleviating physical pain, that is. And although we certainly don’t advocate swearing on a regular basis, it was a humorous illustration of yet another instance of SMALL’s far-reaching power.

But, you don’t need a scientific study to tell you that many other times, those same little four-letter words than can help you feel better when you stub your toe can cause a lot more damage than good. From Jane Fonda’s accidental slip of the tongue on NBC’s live broadcast of the Today Show last year to Goldman Sachs exec Thomas Montag’s highly publicized email that became infamous after his April Senate hearing, we’ve all seen proof of the countless times little swear words can lead to big controversies. And that’s why management at Goldman Sachs has taken steps this week to ban their use in company emails.

Although the new company rules might sound harsh at first, they’re not uncommon. As the Wall Street Journal reports, Wall Street powerhouses like Morgan Stanley and media company Bloomberg LP have similar policies—and for good reason. Although “e-cursing” may seem innocuous at the time, it can have a big and lasting impact.

Over time, the words you choose—whether “naughty” or “nice”—build upon one another, helping people to form their perceptions of who you are. When it’s a personal email, that perception ends with you, but when it’s a company email, the effects can be more far reaching.  In fact, your words ultimately can reflect back on the company, its values, and culture. If you choose unwisely it could have dire consequences…particularly if you unintentionally offend a client with more delicate sensibilities than your own.

So, even if your company doesn’t have a policy against swearing, perhaps it’s time you enact one of your own. Just like anything else that sails across the waves of the World Wide Web, it’s always best to assume that what you’re writing could be seen by anyone. After all, if one day your emails all become public, wouldn’t you want them to show you in your best light?

Posted by Linda and Robin