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How To Remember People's Name |
Uh oh, there she is; the woman you had a one-night stand with. She's coming closer, only you have no idea what her name is. How many times has this happened to you? Or worse yet -- you forget her name while you're in bed with her on a second occasion.
Considering we all meet and greet new faces every day between work and play, it's no wonder names escape us every now and then. A Palm Pilot may be able to retrieve all your important phone numbers, but it isn't going to help you remember the names of your casual encounters or your important contacts. That, my friend, is up to you.
name your game
Paint a picture
Names and important words become easier to remember when you try imagining a picture based on the name. Since men are more visual, we need to use that to our advantage (and not just as an excuse for why we love certain magazines). So let's say you meet Brooke Burke (in your dreams...), and you want to make sure you remember her name, simply imagine sitting by a "brook" with her, for example. The rest is up to your imagination.
Associate to features
Let's continue with the Brooke Burke example, shall we? Use the initials of her name and associate them with her features... beautiful brunette (what did you think I was going to say?) Or say you meet your girlfriend's mother and want to remember her name, Lydia Crane, and she happens to be tall and skinny. Associate the words "long crane" with her obvious lankiness.
Make associations
Associations are a crucial step in improving your memory in many areas, so use them in order to link names with images and features, as mentioned above, in addition to people. If you run into your buddy Tom, who introduced you to his friend Arnold, use an easy-to-remember combination to remember Arnold next time you see him, such as "T&A." Don't blame me if you think of Tom Arnold every time you hear the term "T&A".
Rhyme all the time
It's no coincidence that rhymes are used so often in children's books -- rhyming (a mnemonic device) makes it easier to remember things and makes learning that much easier, not to mention fun. Try using a rhyme to remember the name of that new acquaintance Kyle Marcus, by rhyming it -- Vile Kyle, for example. Just don't get confused and introduce him as Vile Kyle to others, at least not in front of him.
All these names, all these faces... remember them with more easy steps...
Repetition, my dear Watson
When you meet someone new, repeat the person's name in your head as often as possible. Also, incorporate the name into the conversation; this will improve your chances of remembering the name and makes you seem friendlier at the same time. (Ex.: "Nice to meet you Lisa... So, Lisa, what have you been up to lately? Have a great day Lisa.)
Repetition is crucial in memorization, so repeating the person's name to yourself or under your breath will improve your chances of remembering it, especially when you use it in context by incorporating it into the conversation. If you're not sure you caught the person's name the first time, don't be shy to ask them to repeat it for you, or even spell it out for you if it's an unusual name (if the person hands you their business card, take a peak at the spelling while talking to them).
Etch a sketch
If you're meeting an important contact, write the person's name down as soon as you hear it or once the person walks away (provided you have a pen and paper handy in this digital age -- if all else fails, type it into your Palm or get their business card). This will help to etch the name into your mind.
Excuse me, are you famous?
If you meet a woman whose name is Marilyn Murdoch -- somewhat similar to Marilyn Monroe -- associate her with the sexy actress. Or if a new co-worker's name is Donald, think of which character he resembles more, Donald Trump or Donald Duck. And if his name is Hugh, just imagine him wearing a bathrobe (?la Hefner)... uh, maybe not. This method may sound like a stretch, but there are occasions when it can work.
Johnny Mnemonic
Mnemonics are also used in order to learn concepts (how else would we remember how to use a compass, Never Eat Shredded Wheat = North, East, South, West?), so try to make a clever sentence with the letters in the person's name or their initials.
if you forget names...
Ask and you shall receive
Everyone forgets things, it's completely normal, so if the name of an acquaintance escapes you, don't be so hard on yourself. If you bump into the person again, just apologize and ask them for their name again. This of course, depends on the relationship you have with that person.
Pleasure to meet you
If you have a run-in with someone whose name you can't remember, there is something you can do if you're not alone. Simply introduce the person you're with to the person whose name you forgot, but start with the person you're with. Hopefully the rest of the introductions will occur on their own.
In order to improve your memory in general, make sure to stay well-rested (a good night's sleep is linked to memory), eat right and stay fit -- the term "jog your memory" is more literal than you think.
Practice these simple steps to help you remember names and improve your memory -- and you'll only forget what you choose to.
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 Author: Justin
Date: 1/9/2006 |
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