曾经被忽视的代词在专业世界中扮演了重要的角色。

From “she/her/hers” and “he/him/his” to the non-binary “they/them/theirs” and “ze/zir/zirs,” pronouns now appear on email signatures, Zoom screens, business cards, name tags, LinkedIn profiles, and more.

Their usage has gained increased attention as workplaces, and society, turns a spotlight on greater inclusion. “They” earned the honor ofMerriam-Webster’s 2019 Word of the Year随着该术语的查找飙升。

For many in the LGBTQ+ community, the ability to easily self-identify is liberating. For allies, sharing pronouns is a public way to show support. For those who don’t understand the purpose — or feel uncomfortable using non-gendered pronouns — it can be confusing, even frustrating.

多样性专家和倡导者说，这些变化的立场是可以预料的。

教练和咨询公司的首席执行官兼创始人印度马丁说：“我们处于未知领域。”Leadership For Execs。And despite the nuanced conversations, one thing is certain: “Every person has the right to identify themselves as they’d like,” she says. “It’s about respecting each other’s humanity.”

促进更大的归属感

Sharing personal pronouns, and using the correct pronouns for colleagues, can have far-ranging benefits. It can reduce gender-based assumptions and foster a greater sense of belonging among employees. It can also help companies recruit and retain staff in a diverse workforce where a broad mix of people from a spectrum of ethnicities and genders work together amidfive different generations。

在整个美国，大约14分之一的人自我认同为女同性恋，同性恋，双性恋，变性者或其他异性恋者，according to Gallup research。Roughly one in five Gen Zers who have reaced adulthood— those just entering the workforce — identify as LGBT. In addition, 42% of US adults say they know someone who is transgender, and 26% know someone who goes by a gender-neutral pronoun, according toPew Research Center。

多样性的商业利益

Gearah Goldstein说，包容性的环境使个人能够蓬勃发展，同时加强公司的底线。The GenderCool Project，，，，a nonprofit organization that strives to create welcoming workplaces.

她说：“多样性确实增加了每个指标的更好性能。”

Numerous reports show that diverse companies reap substantial rewards, including improvements in创新，，，，productivity，，，，and盈利能力。

So, how do we get to a place where diversity is fully accepted, and employees understand the advantages of using, and honoring, appropriate pronouns? “Have an open conversation about it,” Goldstein says.

To help get the discussions started, below are some common questions and expert feedback. As with many other workplace topics, protocol will continue to evolve, so your best bet is to maintain an ongoing dialog in this area.

代词使用对我来说是不熟悉的领域。我怎么学？

在许多情况下，公开分享代词的同事将愿意谈论他们在这一领域的知识和经验。戈德斯坦说，但是在您伸出手之前，请进行一些在线研究以获得基准了解。您可以从检查惠普的有关在电子邮件签名中包含代词的有用文件andthe pronoun guidefrom the nonprofit外出和平等的工作场所倡导者。There are many online tutorials as well, such as the LinkedIn Learning course on在工作中培养包容性语言的策略。

As a manager, what should I do?

表现出包容性的行为，例如为他人使用正确的代词并对您的代词透明。另外，让您的团队知道您对所有建议和反馈都愿意，并建议戈德斯坦。

例如，您可以说：“我在电子邮件签名中添加代词，因为我想展示盟友。请让我知道，如果我还能做些其他事情来促进有关此主题的对话。”

Keep in mind that some people may not want to put forth their pronouns for varying personal reasons. “We shouldn’t judge others for not using pronouns,” says Goldstein.

如果我不知道某人的代词是什么协议？

Share your pronoun,then invite your colleague to share theirs。For instance, you can say, “Hi, I’m Taylor from the marketing department. My pronouns are they, them, theirs. How should I refer to you?” Never push for someone to share a pronoun if they don’t do so.

If you’re in a setting where you’re unable to inquire about a pronoun — such as a large meeting — use the person’s first name when referring to them, says Martin.

如果有人告诉我我的代词错了，我该怎么说？

“‘Thank you’ is the best response,” says Goldstein. “It shows an intent of positivity and implies that you are trying to do better.”

A quick apology is also good, she says. “Long apologies and discussion can sometimes feel awkward for everyone.”