To Speak 'Posh' Or Not In Order To Progress?

To Speak 'Posh' Or Not In Order To Progress?

Should we be made to change our accent in order to progress in our careers? 

I get many clients with similar issues regarding their accent. They are often from different countries as well as London and other parts of the UK. They are often told that they need to change their accent and the way they speak in order to be ready to enter into a client facing role for example. Many of my clients work in the finance sector and want to change their voice to sound stronger and more confident for example; they also want to change their accent because they are told its too strong and they need soften it in order to have the right sound in front of clients who speak with a ‘posh’ British accent. They say most of those at the top speak this way so they feel forced to do the same. Its sad but true. In this country we still have a class system thats quite prevalent in people’s minds. What’s not said out loud is still often thought. 

As an example of this, I was in Canary Wharf a short while ago and a group of finance professionals were stood outside the station. One of of them was a man talking to two ladies and one lady said to him “Oh my God why are you speaking like that, you sound like you’re from Birmingham!” Her tone was less than pleasant. Even now there are prejudices against people’s accents and backgrounds within the UK.

So the question is should we change our accent in order to progress? A few years ago I was asked to appear on the Joanne Malin show on BBC Radio WM and the debate posed that very question. There was a massive backlash from various locals saying how proud they were of their accent and that they shouldn’t have to change it. Rightly so. The BBC themselves used to have only RP sounding newsreaders and presenters. For those who perhaps aren’t familiar with the term RP (Received Pronunciation), this is the standard British accent based on the speech of the Queen and those in the south of England. Now however, the BBC are very much in favour of regional speakers presenting the news and various other shows as well.  This is of course in the name of diversity.  

As long as they speak clearly and professionally on television, it shouldn’t matter what accent they have. In the end, I believe its about personal preference. I am very much in favour of clear speech and a professional sound, but I do feel that doesn’t necessarily mean changing one’s accent; this should be down to personal choice, rather than something we are made to do.