Call it like it is – get it right

UNACCEPTABLE: NOT MAKING AN EFFORT TO LEARN THOSE HARD-TO-PRONOUNCE NAMES It is part of a person’s identity, race and ethnicity.

‘What’s in a name,” Shakespeare asked. At work, pronouncing your colleagues’ names is important and must not underestimated when it comes to the benefits for diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Pronouncing someone’s name correctly can make a big difference.

Is your name frequently mispronounced at work? Or do you sometimes struggle to pronounce colleagues’ names and are too embarrassed to ask for the correct pronunciation? Most people will answer yes.

Why does it matter if you cannot pronounce a long and difficult name? It can make your colleague feel more supported, create a more inclusive corporate culture and even help secure sales if you use the correct pronunciation, Damian Hamp-Adams, chief executive of Rocketseed, explains.

Correct name pronunciation can be challenging, but it is especially important, both as a key part of individual employee identity and to help employers increase inclusivity.

Names are key to who we are and are part of our personal identity

Jane Bryan from the University of Warwick’s Say My Name project, says our names are entwined with our personal identities, often chosen with care and laden with meaning that spans all kinds of personal, cultural and symbolic associations, as well as reflecting our family, ethnicity and heritage.

Mo Kanjilal, co-creator at Watch This Sp_ce, says although names are pivotal to people’s identity, the majority of people cannot be bothered to try and say names that are different.

“I struggled with this my whole life. My full name is Mousumi [pronounced Mow-shoome].

“At school teachers refused to try and say it, so I used Mo. When I started working, I found a career in sales meant spelling my name all day to people as they could not be bothered to try and say my surname either, which is pronounced exactly as it is written.”

She says shortening people’s names, mispronouncing them or refusing to say a name are all forms of micro-aggression which can cause people distress, frustration and irritation.

“It can damage a person’s sense of identity and completely alter the meaning of a name.”

Many people add the phonetic spelling of their name in e-mail signatures and platforms like LinkedIn have a function to record how to say your name.

Kanjilal says correct name pronunciation shows respect

Correct name pronunciation encourages inclusion

Darko Atijas, CEO of True Altitude, says as names are often linked to ethnicity and culture, asking for the correct pronunciation, is an act of acceptance and can open opportunities to discuss name heritage and promote inclusivity.

“As a professional with a non-anglicised name when meeting with new contacts my name inevitably leads to conversation. I have never taken offense about my first name and I find it endearing if anyone correctly rolls the ‘r’.”

As a child, he refused to Anglicise his name and he thinks it was a wise decision, as it has inevitably been a talking point and made people remember him.

“Regarding my last name Atijas, unfortunately the ‘j’ remains an ongoing challenge for all non-phonetic language speakers. I may very well remove it in future, and simply keep Atias. If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me if Darko was my real name, I would be a wealthy man.”

Mispronunciation can cause embarrassment, alienation and offence

Mispronouncing or misusing names can undermine personal identity and disrespect the individual, leading to feelings of alienation and causing more harm than many realise.

A recent Race Equality Matters poll showed 73% of respondents from more than 100 organisations said their names were mispronounced and it made them feel “not valued or important”, “disrespected” and “that they didn’t belong”.

In addition, 88% thought a phonetic name spelling campaign would help tackle race inequality.

Correct pronunciation shows respect

Muna Abdo, human resources business partner, whose first name is pronounced “Munner”, says if someone makes the effort to pronounce his name correctly, or even asks how he prefers to be addressed, it is a sign of respect to you, your race and ethnicity.

Joseph Aninakwa, inclusion and diversity consultant at Inclusive Employers, says correct name pronunciation in the workplace, with the often complex relationships between colleagues, customers and other business contacts, can:

Create a more relaxed working environment as correct name pronunciation engenders mutual respect and reduces annoyance for everyone.

Create an inclusive workplace as research shows that name mispronunciation can lead to alienation, while saying names correctly increases people’s sense of belonging.

Help recruit and retain staff as it can get working relationships off to the right start and show staff they are valued, from job interviews to performance reviews.

Improve customer interaction because when you have a culture of correct name pronunciation, it shows customers, suppliers and other business contacts respect and goodwill.

Boost brand image and commercial performance with businesses increasingly looking to deal with, buy from and invest in inclusive companies. Correct name pronunciation can have a positive impact on your brand and business performance.

Demonstrate diversity and inclusivity compliance.

Challenging, perhaps, but it is important