An easy way to make a strong impression is to remember someone’s name. If you can remember a room full of names, you shift from leaving an impression to being impressive.
So, how do you remember names even if you have a poor memory?
You make the effort.
People who are bad at remembering names can take comfort in knowing that it’s not a God-given ability. It’s about embedding the name in a way that’s easy to access. If you’re looking for a practical way to recall names, here is the process that I follow:
1. Pay full attention when the name is introduced. Maybe it’s when you greet the person or perhaps when the individual introduces themselves to the group. Resist the urge to go into automatic pilot and consciously focus on the name you just heard and the person associated with it.
2. Repeat their name immediately after they introduce themselves and use it as often as possible. “Hi, my name is Robert. Nice to meet you. Hi Robert, my name is Amy. Nice to meet you.” Be careful not to overdo this as it can become annoying. If you’re in a meeting or a larger group setting, write new names down on your notepad.
3. Ask the other person to repeat the name if you didn’t hear it clearly the first time or if it is an unusual name. Also, ask for the spelling if the name is unusual to you. Write it down or picture it in your head.
4. Find ways to connect with the name. Perhaps this individual has similar features to someone you already know with the same name or you can picture them with objects. Whenever possible, anchor the name to other pieces of information already embedded in your memory. The more connections and triggers you have, the easier it becomes for you to recall their name.
5. If you do forget the person’s name, politely ask them for their name again and use the tips above. Practice makes perfect. The great news about this skill is you have countless opportunities to practice. If you do this right, you can avoid the awkward and apparent, “Hey….man, it was nice meeting you.”
Use these simple and effective tips today – remember the key is focusing your attention and repeating the name as often as possible. If you get this right especially in large groups, you’ll pleasantly surprise a good number of people.
Photo by Sam
