My last name is reasonably easy for Americans and most Europeans to pronounce. But, because there is an extra letter (I don’t know why, can’t trace beyond great-grandfather and grandfather said he preferred to be called Gannon, go figure), sometimes moderators have stumbled during introductions. We call it MIN-tchell. Telemarketers from the south of the USA will say, “Hello, Mr. Mint-CHELL.” I have an immediate clue that I’m not buying. My wife gave her third-graders a small candy chocolate mint on the first day of school to remind them it was MINT-chell.
People with eastern European or African or Asian last names run into more than my minor problems with pronunciation of their last names in America. And switching venues, I’m sure the problem is similar is every culture.
If it is a first meeting, this can be expected. But if it is a colleague or employee or boss, a mispronunciation can go from embarrassing to career limiting.
Elisa S.M. Fattoracci and Larissa R. Garcia recently published an article in the MIT Sloan Management Review with tips on pronouncing an unfamiliar name. I’ve included a link, but I think you must be a subscriber.
For me, it’s first listening and then catching the rhythm of the language. Here are some of their tips.
Ask. Various interactions afford you the opportunity to learn a name’s pronunciation. For example, upon meeting someone, ask how to pronounce their name. Even when the spelling of a name is consistent, its pronunciation can nonetheless vary.
Avoid unwanted nicknames. When you struggle to pronounce a name, do not resort to nicknaming the person without their permission. As a leader or manager, reflect on the potential message you might convey to an employee and their colleagues when using an unwanted nickname.
Practice. As with most things that don’t come naturally to us, practice makes perfect. If you’re unfamiliar with the correct pronunciation of a name, it can be challenging to get it right. This is where practicing can go a long way. Write down the phonetic spelling of the name to help commit it to memory, or use mnemonic devices to help you remember the correct pronunciation. The key here is to keep trying and show respect by making the effort to get it right. Such efforts do not need to be advertised or used as a means of self-promotion.
Own your mistakes, and be open to feedback. When you misspeak, correct yourself and apologize. Again, modeling this behavior will foster a culture wherein employees feel comfortable voicing concerns and providing important feedback — such as how to properly say their name — and they feel welcome and valued. Research suggests that employees do not voice suggestions if they perceive that such efforts are futile.
Demonstrating care and dedication by actively practicing and remembering names is essential for helping employees thrive and feel included.
Set an example. When you learn how to pronounce a name properly, be sure to introduce the person using the right pronunciation for others to emulate. Similarly, correct any name mispronunciations, whether or not the person is present, to take the onus off of them. These actions will go a long way in establishing a high-quality relationship with your colleague and building an inclusive culture. If you are involved in planning a corporate event, business meeting, or any other type of gathering, consider providing name tags that include space for the phonetic spelling. Creating the opportunity to learn correct pronunciations and correcting others’ errors will take the burden off your employees.
Gary Mintchell
Faith Venture 