Brits cautious of revealing their accents at work

Can the way you talk alter your career prospects? Many British people think so – with almost half of the British public (44%) stating they are conscious of how their accents make them appear at work and over a quarter (28%) admitting to altering their accents in the workplace, according to research from 4Com.

The survey found that 27% of Brits felt conscious of their accents while making calls, and a fifth (20%) of British people are mindful about the way they speak in important meetings.

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Interestingly, the research also revealed that not everyone who changes the way they speak does so intentionally, with 13% confessing to not even realising they did it until it was pointed out by a colleague.

Consultant Psychologist and Clinic Director Dr Elena Touroni of The Chelsea Psychology Clinic suggests that people change their voice because they are worried about the connotations their accent may hold.