Siri doesn’t understand my name.
Whether I say it myself or someone leaves me a voicemail, somehow Siri hears “Emory.”
Not Anne. Not Anne Marie.
Emory.
At this point, I’ve gotten used to it — but honestly? It would be nice to hear my name the way it’s meant to sound.
Maybe Siri needs some coaching. (Haha.)
It’s funny… but it’s also a reminder:
Names matter.
Your name. Their name. Their company’s name.
A name carries identity, history, and meaning. And how we say it sends a message.
We’ve all heard it happen.
Someone forgets a name. Mispronounces it. Rushes through it. Or laughs and says, “I’m terrible with names.”
It may seem small — but it isn’t.
Secret #14: Pronunciation isn’t about perfection. It’s about respect and preparation.
When you take the time to say someone’s name correctly, you build trust. When you rush it, guess at it, or avoid it, you create distance — even if you don’t mean to.
And it doesn’t stop with names.
The same applies to companies, places, and technical terms.
The strongest communicators understand this.
They don’t wing it.
They prepare. They ask. They practice.
Because getting it right tells people: You matter.
3 Steps to say a name with intention:
- Say the first name with a slight rising inflection.
- Pause. Give the listener a moment to process.
- Then say the last name with a falling inflection. That downward close signals certainty and intention.
Said that way, a name doesn’t just get spoken. It lands with presence.
Action step: Before your next meeting, presentation, or networking event, identify every name, company, place, and important term you may need to say. Look them up. Write them down. Practice them out loud — using this technique.
Getting it right is more than a detail.
It’s a form of respect.
And people remember when you care.
