The holiday season is here! With this comes the office parties, family gatherings, and social events. At these events, there is a good chance you are going to meet a lot of people. So many that you may find yourself asking “What was his name again?”.
This can be quite embarrassing especially if they remember your name and you don’t remember theirs. Some people just have that special talent for remembering names. That certainly isn’t me. The good thing is, we can learn strategies that can help us out. Here are a few to get you started.
1. Pay attention. It is very easy to get distracted when talking with someone. You may be thinking about what you are going to be doing later in the evening or some big weekend plans. Focus on the individual you are speaking with and listen when they say their name.
2. Repeat it. When someone tells you their name, repeat it back to them. Make eye contact when you are saying it. Looking them in the eye, saying the name back to them, allows you to stay focused on the conversation.
3. Ask. If you didn’t catch the name, or if you are not sure if you heard it correctly, ask. Often people will avoid saying the person’s name because they were not listening or are not sure of what they heard. It is better to ask then to not ask at all.
4. Repeat it again. Throughout the conversation repeat their name. Also, repeat it silently to yourself. You may have heard in school or from your parents if you want to remember something say it over and over again. Repeating their name over and over again allows it to imprint into your mind.
5. Associate the name with an image. One of the best ways children learn words is by associating the words with pictures. For example, the State Arkansas has been associated with a picture of an ark, a can, and a saw. You can do the same thing with names you want to remember. In your mind, think of a word or words you can associate with the individual’s name. You can also discreetly study their facial features almost like taking a mental snapshot for your memory bank.
6. Say Goodbye and repeat again. When you are leaving the conversation or leaving the event, say goodbye using their name. For example, you could say, “Goodbye. It was nice meeting you Samantha.”
7. Take advantage of technology. If you have trouble pronouncing someone’s name, use your cell phone or another recording device to record yourself saying it right after you leave the event. You can also record distinct features or characteristics about the individual that will help you remember exactly who they are.
These are just a few strategies you can try to remember someone’s name this holiday season. Give it a try and I know you will be pleasantly surprised at how successful you are. Oh, and by the way, what’s my name again? 🙂
Carolyn R. Owens has over 25 years of proven experience and serves as a Career Strategist, Leadership and Life Coach. She is the Chairwoman/CEO of Infinity Coaching, Inc. where they help you up-level your skills so you can up-level your income. Infinity Coaching, Inc. provides one-on-one and group coaching, organizational training, personality assessments and a signature program, the Infinity Coaching Inner Circle. Find out more at https://infinitycoaching.net
