Some phrases get tossed around casually among friends, in private conversations, or in moments of frustration. Calling a colleague a “pain in the ass” during a professional meeting is not one of them. The problem is not simply that the phrase is crude. The problem is what the phrase communicates. It tells the room that asking questions can make you a problem. It suggests that challenging a process can make you difficult. It turns professional inquiry into a personality flaw.
