The way you talk affects career advancement. Here’s how.

Your next chance at a promotion could hinge on how you communicate, according to a study from Harvard Business School. Researchers found that workers' careers are often shaped by their speech patterns, not necessarily because these patterns are linked to merit but because managers tend to believe workers who talk similarly possess superior social skills.

By examining decades of labor-market data and recordings, the team discovered that individuals whose communication style aligns with a workplace's norm are more likely to be considered for "people-oriented, socially intensive" positions, which frequently lead to career advancement.

The study specifically looked at how a Southern U.S. accent impacts career opportunities in the South and Midwest compared to the Northeast and West, finding that those speaking in this accent are more likely to secure socially intensive roles in regions where their accent is prevalent. Additionally, the researchers observed that since 1980, the rise in "social task-intensive" employment for women and minority groups, including Black Americans and Latin American immigrants, has been mainly concentrated in regions where their group is highly represented in the labor market.

For instance, Latin Americans are more likely to be chosen for people-oriented roles in areas with significant Latin American populations.

Professor Kadeem Noray, an assistant professor at Harvard Business School and co-author of the paper with his wife, noted that it's no surprise that being culturally aligned with one's workplace environment can significantly impact an individual's career trajectory. He emphasized the importance of creating an inclusive environment where diverse cultures are welcomed.

According to Noray, a crucial step for managers is to consciously avoid bias toward people who sound like them during hiring processes. This could involve being more open to candidates who may not seem like a perfect "fit" initially. Noray suggested that employers should relax the criteria for the type of talent that can excel in their firm, which could give businesses a competitive edge.

Furthermore, fostering an environment where employees learn from and enjoy interacting with individuals different from themselves could help organizations better leverage the power of cultural diversity, according to Noray.