From The Daily Mail:
If you wonder why you're always being passed over for promotion, then there might finally be a solution... change your name.
People with a name that is more easily pronounced have better prospects of climbing the career ladder, a study as found. Researchers looked at how the way names are said can influence impressions and decision making.
Dr Simon Lahamschvinski, junior researcher at the University of Melbourne which carried out the study, said their were subtle biases that we are not aware of that affect our decisions. "Research findings revealed that the effect is not due merely to the length of a name or how foreign-sounding or unusual it is, but rather how easy it is to pronounce. Such an appreciation may help us de-bias our thinking, leading to fairer, more objective treatment of others. Instead of constantly passing them over for promotion."
Their research means that rather than their technological wizardry, the success of the likes of Bill Gates and Larry Page could actually be down to their names. However, the success of Mark Zuckerpuckerpapabergalosovitch shows that there are exceptions to the rule. Luckily, Mr Z decided against "ZuckerpuckerpapabergalosovitchBook" at the last moment and plumped for "Facebook" instead.
Dr Adam Ant, head of the New York University Stern School of Business which also took part in the study said; "This research is complete bollocks. Actually, people are easily impressed by tricky sounding or foreign names. It's been a real struggle for me to become Head of this department".
Virtuous can-kicking
34 minutes ago
12 comments:
Someone has been playing with the names to make this a Dail Mash, rather Mail, story.
much better for it though.
BQ, d'you think?
comrade Wadzcyworwitznski!
Let me see now - Mark, Mark [rolls it round on the tongue] ... nah, too tricky.
'What the publisher asks hinself is not, is your stuff any good? not even, is your stuff any good once we've taken all the adjectives out? but, is your surname nice and short and your first name just a bit longer? Instant trademark, you see?'
From somewhere deep within the works of Douglas Adams, I think. The name in question, if memory serves (it often doesn't) was Howard Bell.
Mark Wadzcyworwitznski, though we feel your manuscript has promise, we do not feel your name fits our desired profile at this time.
Dinero, I'm useless with names, I keep getting you confused with the other commenter called Deniro.
"James" can be tricky for Spaniards as well.
CI, OK, would I do better replacing 'Mark' with a simple 'M'?
Esteemed Mr M,
I don't think you've quite got the hang of this...
CI, I've obviously missed something, but how come you're allowed to be just "C" and I can't be just "M"?
Wouldn't dream of stopping you, but M Wadzcyworwitznski is clearly a name in search of a role. You need to find the right one. It would look wonderful, for example, on an otherwise unmarked office door in an unassuming but quietly upmarket building, known only to a few of the right (or wrong) sort of people as the place to find just the legal mind you need when the more conventional avenues have failed or cannot be used. Are you that man, is the question we should ask?
CIngram: Wadders is an accountant, not a lawyer!
yaggp3
I know he's an accountant, that was my point (sort of). M (or better Mark) Wadsworth is a fine accountant's name; it suggests reliably, solidness, competence, a man you would trust your tax and business affairs to.
But he asked why he can't be M Wadzcyworwitznski. Because M Wadzcyworwitznski is not an effortlessly competent Home Counties accountant, but something quite different and much shadier.
Yag, CI, thanks. "Wadsworth" is a traditional Yorkshire name actually. But being a bit tight with money (i.e. being from Yorkshire) makes you a better accountant/treasurer, so it's all good.
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