I recently attended an event that  brought many business professionals together.   After completing my registration, I was introduced to Mr. O, one of my previous colleague’s mentor.  We talked about the excitement of being together for the first time in two years and the benefits of in-person connections.  As the kick-off to the event was quickly approaching, I asked Mr. Olanrewaju (the name printed on his welcome badge) if it was okay if we exchanged emails.  He paused and looked at me for what seemed like forever.  Realizing my error, I quickly apologized and used his provided name, Mr. O.  He finally spoke and said, “I go by Mr. O because it’s easy for others.”. I told him I referred to him as Mr. Olanrewaju because that’s his name, and part of his identity.

Have you ever thought about the name you were given, its origins, and what it represents?  For many people across the world, there is much pride put into naming a child.  Sometimes the birth order will determine a child’s name or their culture will influence their name.  No matter how they came to be named, it’s their name and we should take time to acknowledge and respect it.  It could also be an opportunity to connect and learn more about them on a personal level.  In fact, that’s what happened to me and Mr.  Olanrewaju.  I shared that I met someone with the same last name a few years back, which, without a doubt, aided me in pronouncing his name.  I also shared the importance of helping people pronounce his name.  Would it be easier to refer to him as Mr. O? Sure.  But that’s not his name, and he shouldn’t have to shorten it to make it easier for me.

There is so much that can be shared about this topic, but I’ll leave you with this, in a world where people are increasingly being held accountable for diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, you would be amazed at what connection can be made in a person’s name. My challenge for you, instead of allowing someone to give you a pass on their name to make it easier for you to pronounce, challenge yourself in learning their name.  Just like all the other matters of this world, their name is part of their identity, and it most definitely matters.