What we say — and how we say it — has the power to shape our culture, both societally and in the workplace. Treasury and finance professionals regularly interact with people from various countries, industries, languages and cultures. Fostering an inclusive environment is integral to organizational success.

What is inclusive language?

Inclusive language refers to the words and phrases we use to avoid biases, slang and expressions that discriminate against groups of people based on race, gender, socioeconomic status and ability. “Inclusive language creates an environment where everyone feels safe, respected, and that they're a part of the conversation,” said Osamwonyi Igbineweka, CIB Client Coverage International Graduate Program, Standard Chartered Bank.

What does that look like in practice? Non-gendered language is a large part of this. Examples include:

• Use alternatives to the male default exclusionary phrases:
• “Chairperson” instead of “chairman”
• “Work hours” instead of “man hours”

• Avoid heteronormative language and gendered assumptions:
• “Hi, team” or “hi, everyone” instead of “hi, guys” or “hi, ladies”
• Use “partner” instead of “husband” or “girlfriend”
• “They” instead of “he” or “she” (when the person’s preferred pronoun is unknown)

Inclusive language also respects a person’s preferences in how they refer to their race. For example, “I choose to be identified as Black instead of African-American,” said Frettra de Silva, Head, Legal, Transaction Banking Americas, Standard Chartered Bank.

This also applies to ethnicity. “I am Nigerian American,” said Igbineweka. “Because of my name, a lot of people ask me, ‘Where are you from?’ I'll say, ‘I'm from the Bronx, where I was born and raised,’ and they'll say, ‘No, where are you from?’”

Igbineweka explained that a different way to approach the conversation would be to ask, where is your name from? “Then I can say, ‘I'm also of Nigerian American descent. My parents are Nigerian, and so they gave me a name that has meaning in Nigerian,’” he said.

Other examples include using person-centered language, such as saying “people with disabilities” or “person with a disability” instead of “disabled,” to put the person first and the disability second.

Using inclusive language in the workplace can go a long way toward ensuring everyone feels included, heard and respected.  

“We’re all coming from different places in time, in the world, and in where we want to be. Let's be open and respectful,” said de Silva.

Why is using inclusive language important?

Language has a tremendous impact on our sense of belonging. When people feel like they belong, retention, engagement and employee satisfaction increase — all of which contribute to a more productive and innovative workforce.

“When you're in public, or even when you enter into other private spaces such as workplaces or other institutions, there are certain rules that you have to follow. Inclusive language helps ease that by creating a space and a sense that you're a part of this,” said Igbineweka.

“It's a demonstration of respect,” said de Silva. “And respect is one of the first steps in building trust. Once you feel trusted, you’re more open. We want people to feel they can express their point of view. When someone is true to themselves and communicates a new or different idea, it sparks another idea. It creates a little magic.”

It can also affect your employees’ performance. “When a person gets a sense that they are included, whether it's in a discussion or a project, it gives you a sense of importance — but also a sense of responsibility,” said Igbineweka. “I know I'm a part of this, so now it's time to hold up my end of the bargain.”

How to start promoting inclusive language

Start by getting clear about your intentions. Why do you want to use inclusive language?

Next, have a conversation. Ask the hard questions and really listen to the answers. “That way you can really hear and understand what a person has chosen for themselves, what they want to project for themselves, and how that can fit into the overall environment,” said de Silva. “Then you can put that into action.”

And be sure to communicate to everyone that there is going to be a trial-and-error phase. “There's no way you're going to get it perfect the first time,” said Igbineweka. “That's a very unrealistic standard to set.” Make space for mistakes to happen, but be sure to go through the process of understanding why they happened, ensuring it’s not a recurring issue.  

Some guiding principles for communicating in a global workplace

English is often used when communicating across countries and languages. When communicating with colleagues for whom English is not their first language, a welcoming tone and patience are fundamental.

 “You are already aware of the fact that it's not going to come rolling off the tongue as it is with someone for whom English is their first language,” said Igbineweka. “So you have to give them time to understand what you're saying. And you need to give yourself space to understand what they're saying.”

Even in countries such as the U.S. and U.K., where English is widely used, many different dialects and expressions are used. A couple of common regional examples in the U.S. include “pop” versus “soda” and “sneakers” versus “tennis shoes.”

Making an effort to use plain language (instead of acronyms and jargon) and avoid geographically specific colloquialisms can help your message be easily understood by the largest number of people.

And make sure to listen. “We have to listen carefully,” said de Silva. “Communication goes two ways. We have to be an active listener and an active participant.”

Inclusion in nonverbal communication

Can inclusion be communicated non-verbally? Yes, it can — and is. Non-verbal communication includes facial expressions, body language, gestures and eye contact. Positive non-verbal communication can give micro-affirmations to your colleagues.

For example, sitting up straight and maintaining eye contact when someone is talking implies that you’re paying attention. “This assures the person who is talking that you're engaged in the conversation,” said Igbineweka.

Showing respect through inclusive language

In essence, using inclusive language means communicating without presuppositions about your audience. Never assume that the people you work with have the same lived experience as you.

“We all come from different walks of life,” said Igbineweka. “And through those different walks of life, we all came here to this workplace. There's a natural level of respect in that.”