Sometimes managers have a problem with an employee that's just inappropriate behavior for the workplace. A good example is cursing. You've got an employee who swears in the workplace. And managers aren't sure what to do because what they are really doing is sitting around all day waiting for the employee to blurt out that curse word again. And what do you do as a manager - say "Don't say that in this workplace"?

But see, I always tell managers you've got to stop focusing on the behavior you want people to stop doing and start focusing on the behavior you want them to start doing. So what do you do in the case of an employee who curses inappropriately? You've got to teach that person some alternatives. You've got to teach that person, "I want you to give me a dagnabbit, or give me a gee whiz. Give me a gosh golly." Try stepping on their toe... aahh, there's that curse word again! So you've got to practice saying dagnabbit, gee whiz, gosh golly.

If you want someone to stop doing an inappropriate behavior, you've got to start coaching them on the appropriate behavior you want them to start doing instead.