Janet CollinsRemembering a Name
June 28th 2009 05:00
Remembering people’s names is not only an art but a necessity. Forgetting them can stall a business relationship and can often be downright embarrassing.
We meet so many people through our work and socialising that remembering all their names can be extremely difficult especially if the meeting has been swift. So often I hear people say “I’m hopeless with names” or “I never remember people’s names”.
Addressing a person by their name can win you a lot of points. Not only will it build an instant rapport with them but it can make a very good impression and in turn they will probably remember your name too. A friend of mine who not so long ago became a trainer and coacher remarked recently that calling his students by name gave him an instant rapport with them.
It is probably true that some people just have a really good knack for remembering names but sometimes this “knack” has been trained in the art of recalling names.
I know sometimes the reason I have forgotten someone’s name only shortly after being introduced to them is because my mind has been elsewhere, thinking about what I had to do or something like that.
Generally I am pretty good at remembering names but I do have times that I am not so good and I have tried to improve my ability to remember by concentrating on the name when I am first introduced.
There are many who advise to repeat the name back to them such as “nice to meet you John” and if possible repeat it often in the first conversation you have with them.
This may not always be possible. In work situations especially sometimes you meet people very briefly and don’t have the opportunity to repeat and repeat the name. In this situation I often deliberately try to repeat the name to myself a few times. It does help.
Often I have heard it suggested that using mind pictures to remember names can be very helpful although I have never really found this suited me.
One trick I do find useful is to think of a celebrity or famous person with the same name and repeat this whole name to yourself automatically associating that person with someone of fame.
There are people who have lots of practice at names everyday and lots of them. Teachers have classes full of students they address personally. Supervisors with quite a few people reporting to them are constantly relating to people individually.
Some of us just don’t get that regular daily experience so the best idea is to practice and purposely try to improve your skill.
If all else fails perhaps you could quietly ask someone else the person’s name if that is possible or maybe you can just admit you can’t remember their name.
Do you have a special trick or tips for remembering names?
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