When I owned my first spa, I could say pretty confidently that most of my employees had never heard me swear. I was very careful to keep my language above board and keep the colorful words of frustration to myself - or at worst, muffled. This was not easy for me coming from a restaurant background where f-bombs often fly behind closed kitchen doors and in moments of intense stress.

But is it possible that using profanity sparingly, in times of crisis or overwhelm, a way to bond with your staff or colleagues at the spa or salon? To show that you are human and filled with emotion just as they are?
To express your feelings in a way that no other words can do adequately.

The answer? Maybe. See what you think in this article Should Leaders Ever Swear  from the Harvard Business Review blog that discusses the issue of profanity in the workplace and public arena .
 
To me the problem with using salty expressions and slang with or in front of your staff is that it sets a precedent for them to do the same with each other and perhaps with their clients. This can lead to all kinds of other problems that are harder to overcome - issues like customer satisfaction, employee morale and even - depending on the slang and use of words - harassment or hostile workplace.

My recommendation is to use your good judgement and keep those four letter words inside your head and mouth whenever possible. If needed, come up with a non-offensive verbal release that can be said without turning heads or dropping jaws. My favorite at the moment? God bless America.

Or in place of blowing off steam through a string of expletives, why not take a few deep breaths to slow down and refocus No it's not the same as running wild with verbal exclamations, but is definitely a lot more spa like. And it sets the example of a true leader who has grace under pressure - ar least appears to.