One of the single most important skills for anyone in business is cultivating an ear for uncommon names.
After all, people expect others to address them with their correct name and, more importantly, people deserve to be addressed correctly.
It is a skill that can be cultivated through goodwill, listening and repeating, but never by dodging the issue. Some key ideas:
* Take time to learn a name. When introduced to a person whose name is unfamiliar to you, listen carefully and repeat the name to see if you have it correct. If you don't get it on the first repeat, thank the person for correcting you. Later, in a more private setting, tell the person you'd like to pronounce their name properly.
The worst thing to do is always get it wrong without any attempt to correct it. Jennifer Gonzalez, writing for Cult of Pedagogy, calls those folks arrogant manglers who make it clear they just don't have time for you or your name.
* Remember names are sacred. Never laugh at someone's name. Never say a name with an ironic or bumbling tone. That is common respect.
* Don't make up nicknames. In North America, shortened names and nicknames are common. (Not Joseph, just Joe.) But not every person wants or expects their names to be shortened. If they do, they will certainly introduce themselves in that way.
You can always use pronunciation guides, too. For one example, go to hearnames.com.
