How to Pronounce Names Correctly in the Workplace

As a seller (or just a regular degular human being), doing little things, like saying someone's name right or at least attempting to say someone's name correct, can be one way of standing out among all other sellers someone may have interfaced with recently. Story time: I used to go by "Gabby" in school, because I got tired of being called "Gabriel" (GAY bree uhl) by teachers instead of "Gabrielle" (GAB ree EL), and figured it'd be easier if I gave them something easier to pronounce. Then I turned 24 and realized how instead of minimizing my name, I could expect that others could say my full name, and say it how it's meant to be pronounced. Now "Gabrielle" isn't _that_ phonetically "challenging" for native English speakers, yet it does pose a challenge for those whose default is "Gabriel" or "Gabriella" (GAB ree EL uh). So imagine what it's like coming in to predominantly native English speaking space (i.e. booking a demo with a US-based, native English speaking sales rep while having a Baltic, Sino-Tibetan, or Indo-Aryan originating name)? ➡️ Defaulting to a nickname or initials ➡️ Listening to people mispronounce your name for 30 min (or more) ➡️ Opting for an "Americanized" name to make it easier for everyone So what does that mean for sellers today, especially when interfacing with people from every corner of the globe? When jumping on a call, or about to make a cold call with someone and you're unsure of how to pronounce their name: 𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 Google "how to pronounce {{name}}" and look for youtube videos for name pronunciation Practice saying the name out loud to help train those phonetic muscles 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 Before accidentally micro-aggressing someone by guessing how to pronounce their name, ask them: "How do I pronounce your name?" If needed, ask them to repeat it again so you catch the nuances. 💡Read the room -- if others on the meeting know the person better than you (i.e. you're the seller and you're on a call with multiple people from the client side), follow others' lead on this to keep working towards pronouncing someone's name correctly. 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 If you record your calls, listen to how they say their name, replay it, and keep practice saying it until it's muscle memory. And lastly, remember this from Dale Carnegie: "A person's name is to him or her the sweetest and most important sound in any language". Be sweet. Do what's important. Try to meet your client's where they're at.

Learn how to pronounce people's names. Not the nickname you gave them in *your* native language. Their actual name. In initial conversations with a new person, regardless of my level of familiarity with their name, I lead with, "Can you confirm how to properly pronounce your name? Is it [insert earnest effort here]?" Sometimes I get it right, sometimes I don't but either way, I write out the *correct* spelling and the phonetic pronunciation in my notebook. Then I thank them using the correct pronunciation, and we move on with our call/meeting. Inclusivity 101 💜

Saying someone’s name correctly should be the standard. We come across a lot of names in our daily lives, especially in HR and talent. It’s important to realize not everyone is going to have a common name—and not everyone is going to go by a nickname. And they shouldn’t have to minimize their identity by going by an “easier” (or Americanized) nickname. So, how can we make sure we’re being inclusive and conscious? 1️⃣ Do our research. Google has a wonderful phonetic tool and YouTube can be a resource as well. If your person is on LinkedIn, some accounts may also have a little speaker next to their name that plays a soundbite of their pronunciation. 2️⃣ Ask. “How do I pronounce your name?” It’s as simple as that. Mispronunciations can make people feel invisible or "othered." But asking respectfully, listening closely, even practicing—shows that you care. Pronouncing a name correctly might feel like a small thing, but the impact is lasting. It's one of the simplest, most human ways to build trust. What do you think? #respect #inclusion #diversity #HR

I was listening to a podcast I love when the host made a comment that really rubbed me the wrong way. While introducing his guest, he said her name (correctly, I assume), but then immediately offered a nickname, prefacing it with: “And this one’s easier to pronounce.” Easier for you, Dan. But her original name is likely just as easy to pronounce, for the people familiar with it. That’s a you limitation, not an issue with the name itself, which probably carries deep cultural or family significance. I get it. Encountering an unfamiliar name can feel awkward. We’ve all been there. But imagine how awkward it is living with a name that people consistently struggle with or dismiss. So, here’s a quick guide for handling it with respect. Do: ✅ ask, “Can you help me pronounce your name?” ✅ ask for the person to repeat it so that you can try to pronounce it ✅ ask, “What’s the origin of your name? I’ve never heard it before” ✅ ask for some grace and acknowledge that you might need to ask again to get it right Don’t: 🚫 ask, “Do you have a nickname?” 🙅🏾♀️ 🚫 say, “Oh wow, that’s different!!” 😐 🚫 assign them a nickname on the spot 😡 🚫 totally butcher it and try to keep it moving 🤬 P.S. LinkedIn and Slack have a cool feature that allows people to record the pronunciation of their name. Use it. P.S.S. I give people grace when it comes to pronouncing my name. When I first meet someone, I always start by introducing myself so that it gives them a way to hear it and know how to say it. P.S.S.S. In Esan, my Dad’s language, Ejieme means “a good, comfortable place” and Eromosele means “your prayers have been answered” 😁