Just got back from a kickoff meeting for a global IT project. Thirty people were sitting around a big table. One of the leaders<\/a> of the meeting said, \u201cLet\u2019s all introduce ourselves. Say your name and tell us some things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ugh. Another slog through a forest of biographical facts and resume trivia.<\/p>\n

The first guy stood up, pushed his chair under the table, leaned on the back of the chair and said \u201cMy name is [guttural utterance].\u201d<\/p>\n

The second person did the same thing–stood up, pushed his chair under the table, wrapped his lips over his name and swallowed it whole.<\/p>\n

On it went. The worst was an English guy who mumbled and grunted as if he were talking to himself.<\/p>\n

I probably did the same thing. Why? Because I\u2019m accustomed to my name, accustomed to saying it. My name belongs to me. It\u2019s a part of me I can\u2019t change<\/a>. I say it the same way all the time. All my friends know my name. I just throw it out there expecting everyone to recognize it.<\/p>\n

In this case, I bet most people didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

I have recently learned how not to do this. How not to say my name.<\/p>\n

The way to not say your name is to say it without any change of pitch between your first and last name.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve learned I should say it with a rising intonation on my first name, and a falling intonation on my last.<\/p>\n

So your first name climbs up in pitch, and your last name drops down in pitch.<\/p>\n

So here goes. \u201cMy name is SIMS (rising pitch) WYETH (falling pitch.)\u201d<\/p>\n

The graphical representation would be a ^, or caret mark–a common proofreading symbol.<\/p>\n

Oh, one more thing. When you get to the top of the hill with your first name, take a rest for a split second before you head down the hill with your last name.<\/p>\n

So, one more time. \u201cMy name is SIMS (rising pitch), [pause at the top], WYETH (falling pitch.)<\/p>\n

That moment of silence at the top of the mountain gives your listeners a chance to take your name in, especially if it\u2019s an unusual name.<\/p>\n

Now you try it. Go up with your first name, pause for a tiny second, and then come down with your last name.<\/p>\n

It feels kind of weird and awkward, but it makes your name pop out, as though it had the glow of orange neon in it.<\/p>\n

So don\u2019t settle for a guttural utterance! Your name is a unique designation, and you should ensure that listeners hear it clearly and brightly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Just got back from a kickoff meeting for a global IT project. Thirty people were sitting around a big table. One of the leaders of the meeting said, \u201cLet\u2019s all introduce ourselves. Say your name and tell us some things.\u201d Ugh. Another slog through a forest of biographical facts and resume trivia. The first guy… Read More »How To Say Your Name<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","_ti_tpc_template_sync":false,"_ti_tpc_template_id":""},"categories":[615],"tags":[146,21,116,167,117,906,622],"yoast_head":"\n