She/her/hers — Pronouns Matter
I have had a few people ask me why my LinkedIn profile includes “she/her/hers”.
It indicates that I believe and practice inclusivity in the workplace, and that I respect a professional’s choice of personal pronoun, including non-binary gender identification.
I have several friends in recent years that have come out as non-binary, and some of them have *been* friends for well over 20 years. They have changed their pronouns, and I will admit that it is a challenge to wrap my head around someone I have always known as “him” and “her” to “they”. But since they ARE my friends, and this makes them happy, I make the effort.
In today’s world, we spend a significant amount of time interacting/time with our professional colleagues. Studies have shown that using correct pronouns increases workplace productivity, makes for more loyal employees, and significantly increases and organization’s employer brand. It also goes beyond just signaling inclusivity — it creates a message to employees and potential employees, partners, and customers that the organization practices truly diverse and inclusive business, and creates a safe workspace for employees to bring their authentic selves into the professional realm.
