The Power of None! Honouring Safety and Inclusion by Rethinking Mandatory Honourifics

Hana Bland

July 09, 2025 03:03

Currently, BNI Connect does not allow a member profile to show as fully complete unless an honorific or personal title (such as Mr., Mrs., etc.) is selected. Choosing “None” results in the profile being marked as incomplete.

There are valid reasons why someone may choose not to use an honorific. For some, it's a matter of avoiding titles that reinforce social hierarchies or a preference for a more informal, egalitarian approach. Others may identify as non-binary and prefer a gender-neutral option such as “Mx.” In some cases, opting out of an honorific is also 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆.

Requiring an honorific can unintentionally disadvantage members who make this choice. When selecting “None” results in an “incomplete” profile, it may give the impression that the member is not fully participating in the platform or team, when in fact they are exercising a legitimate and thoughtful personal decision.

I respectfully request that the “None” option be recognized as valid and allow a profile to be marked complete without requiring an honorific. This would create a more inclusive and equitable experience for all members.

2

• Official comment

  

  Jeremy Walsh

  July 25, 2025 15:13

  @hana - thank you so much for this suggestion.  We are taking it under advisement and will be looking at ways to address it in the software.
• 

  Hana Bland

  July 25, 2025 18:27

  Thank you, Jeremy.

  0

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