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Master the Pronunciation of a Colleague's Name
Invest five minutes to say a foreign colleague's name correctly — the highest return per minute in workplace relationships.
Goal
Break the "verbal laziness" that makes colleagues from different backgrounds feel invisible, by investing in the single most effective signal: their name.
Steps
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1
Ask explicitly: "May I hear your name in your own original pronunciation?"
Expected Outcome
Immediate
The relationship shifts at first correct pronunciation. Many say "Thank you, nobody does that".
Evidence base
School: Cultural Humility / DEI Research
Founders: Melanie Tervalon · Jann Murray-García (1998)
Tervalon's 1998 "Cultural Humility" shows correct name pronunciation is the top "belonging" signal in multicultural teams.
Keywords
Frequently asked questions
How long does "Master the Pronunciation of a Colleague's Name" take?
This exercise takes about 6 minutes, practiced with another person in a Behavioral format.
When will I notice the effect of "Master the Pronunciation of a Colleague's Name"?
The relationship shifts at first correct pronunciation. Many say "Thank you, nobody does that". In the short term: Within a month, this colleague is markedly more willing to share insider info or back you.
Is "Master the Pronunciation of a Colleague's Name" evidence-based?
Yes — it draws on Cultural Humility / DEI Research (Melanie Tervalon, Jann Murray-García (1998)). Tervalon's 1998 "Cultural Humility" shows correct name pronunciation is the top "belonging" signal in multicultural teams.
Is "Master the Pronunciation of a Colleague's Name" suitable for beginners?
Its difficulty level is: Beginner. No external tools required — it can be practiced directly inside the app.
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