What is in a name?

Learning how to say and pronounce an individual’s name is a small, yet intentional act of inclusion you can engage in today!?Sharing my perspectives on why this is important and would love to hear from you on your personal experiences.

“If I’m going to tell you a real story????

I’m going to start with my name” – Kendrick Lamar

I was thrilled to recently find out about several technology name pronunciation features. I know that the pronunciation of my full name – Kavitha Prabhakar – is often one of the first questions people ask when they meet me. ?I definitely appreciate that, because we all know how awkward it can be in a meeting or networking event when someone mispronounces your name or calls you by the wrong one entirely. It can be uncomfortable, or worse, it can make some people feel unseen.

A name is often central to our identity – it is an essential element for human connection and belonging. Our names often have ties to our culture, our families, and our origins. Take my name for example: ?Kavitha/ ????? means “poem” in Hindi and represents my mom’s love for the arts. At work, I choose to go by “KP” – not because my name can be difficult for some to pronounce and this is an easy out, but because my father in India has the same initials and every time I hear KP, it reinforces this meaningful connection to him.

When we talk about inclusion, we can often become laser focused on the big challenges and systemic issues we need to tackle. We absolutely should, as this is essential to progress on equitable outcomes, but in the process, we may overlook the intentional and powerful changes we can make in our day-to-day interactions. Learning how to pronounce someone’s name may seem small, but often times it can be incredibly impactful.

Making an effort to get someone’s name right is an opportunity to connect

Culture sometimes plays a major role in which names are considered hard to pronounce. There has been a historical tendency for white European names to be seen as normative in the US.

This can put pressure on individuals with names from non-dominant cultures to change their names on resumés to avoid potential bias and develop Anglicized versions of their given names to make it easier for others to pronounce them. Researchers from Stanford University and the University of Toronto found that those who changed their resumés were twice as likely to get call-backs for an interview, compared to those who left ethnic details intact. Furthermore, another study found that easy to pronounce names, and their bearers, are evaluated more positively than difficult names and the people who hold them.

While we all make mistakes when it comes to pronunciations, let’s take time to understand how they could be received and experienced. Taking time to correct our mistakes, and making an effort to get the pronunciation right, can help people feel seen, and as though we value their culture, family, and origins. At Deloitte, where inclusion is a core value that is embedded in the fabric of our organization, getting this right is one way we can all help to create the talent experience we aspire to have.

So, what can each of us do?

Here are some of the things I’ve tried to do, and have seen and learned from others.

·??????Ask people how to pronounce their name and if it has any special meaning

·??????Look up how to pronounce names in advance of a meeting

·??????Use technology that provides pronunciations of your name – some of the technology allows individuals to personally record their name or accept an automated option

·??????Include the phonetics of people’s names in presentations and written introductions

·??????Gently correct people if they mispronounce your name and practice the correct pronunciation with them

·??????Be open to corrections from others if a team member/ally offers it

·??????Don’t avoid using the name in fear of getting it wrong - instead try to give names the attention they deserve and practice until you get it right

·??????Role model the behavior so others on your team are encouraged to follow

Making the effort to correctly pronounce someone’s name is a small act that conveys respect and understanding, and can go a long way in helping people feel valued. At the end of the day, isn’t that what we all want?