We hope you enjoyed our last Singles Café meeting for the fall season! Here are a few parting tips from Sandra Powers to help you remember everyone you met this season!
And remember that Singles Café will begin its spring season in February. See you there!
How’s your Memory?
‘Tricks’ for Remembering Names
Think about it; what is the one word in any language you can recognize? … It’s your name!!! If you hear YOUR name, your ears perk up, you instantly respond, right? For the past fifteen years I have personally introduced thousands of people to each other because I’ve learned to remember names . . . and you can too.
Did you know that people respond better to you when you take the time to remember, and call them by, their name. It shows real interest. Whether it’s a new woman or man you’re flirting with, a new co-worker, a networking situation, or a random person with whom you are having a fun conversation, the response is always positive.
Here are some top techniques for remembering people’s names. Each one is slightly different, and you can decide on what ‘trick’ suits you the best. Some of these tactics are so simple, they may seem silly. Simply remember that we’re focusing on the fundamentals here. Find what works for you and practice, practice, and practice some more. You’ll be amazed at the dividends that this skill in remembering names will pay throughout your life. Ok, here are the techniques! Choose the one you feel you can use the easiest.
Tip #1 – Repetition
Repetition is the mother of all learning. This technique is basically just verbal repetition. When you meet someone, your first interaction should go something like this. You: Hi, I’m Mary. Other Person: Hi Mary, I’m Larry. You: Larry. Nice to meet you, Larry. You: So Larry….
Notice in this brief interaction, you’ve mentioned Larry’s name 3 times. Most of the time, people won’t even use the other person’s name once. Even when they forget the other person’s name and embarrassingly have to ask for it again, they still won’t say the other person’s name to themselves. Therefore, repeating the other person’s name repeatedly in conversation will help ingrain their name into your memory.
Tip #2 – Inner Voice Reminder ~ Another simple way is to just repeat their name in your head over and over. This is like auditory visualization. Larry, Larry, Larry, Larry. There’s that repetition again.
Tip #3 – Written Reminder ~ When you meet someone, and you are finished talking to them, write down their name on a piece of scrap paper, or a post-it. Carrying a pocket notebook is a good idea. You can also input their name and something to remember then by (e.g. physical feature or commonality that you shared) into your cell phone.
Tip #4 – Name Tag ~ A nifty trick is also to visualize their name written on a nametag on their forehead. The explicit visuals will help it sink in more.
Tip #5 – Friend Tag ~ If have a friend with the same name, use it to your advantage. You will never forget your good friend’s name.
Tip #6 – Information Tag ~ Once you are in conversation, use any information they give you to help you remember things about them. If they are from Canada, you can say Larry from Canada.
Tip #7 – Picture Tag ~ Associate the person’s name with a picture that sounds like their name. Ex. Grant: Ant. Grant the Ant! How about Barbara… and a barbed wire fence. Barbed Barbara.
Tip #8 – Physical Feature Tag ~ Associate their name to a feature or characteristic they have. Maybe it’s their hair, maybe it’s the shirt they were wearing. Maybe they have sexy eyes. Example: Johnny “Sexy Eyes” or Kyle “Great Arms”
Tip #9 – Make New Friends ~ Introduce the person to other people. That way, you will get practice saying their name, and at the same time, you will meet new friends.
Tip #10 – Crazy Name Dance ~ I’ll admit this is a little strange, but it works for some people. When you get their name, imagine the letters of their name spelled out, but spinning and bouncing.
Tip #11 – Mind Picture ~ Visualize a scene associated with the name. It could be, for example, the place you met this person.
Tip #12 – Open your ears ~ Actively listen. This is so easy to say, but in actuality, I think that really listening is the main thing people DON’T do when meeting people. They want to get their own 2 cents in the conversation; they don’t really care what the other person is saying.
Tip #13 – Make a Rhyme ~ Very easy to do. Chuck the duck. Manny the Martian. Jake the Snake. Need I say more?
Tip #14 – Name Mnemonic ~ Make mnemonic with their name. Example: for Jackson, you can use a Jack + a Sun, or a jack orbiting the sun.
Tip #15 – How do you spell that? ~ Basically, this is another repetition exercise. By asking the person’s name again and spelling it out, it’s getting drilled into our brain. This is especially useful when you meet someone with an unfamiliar or a foreign name. The act of spelling creates a visual image of the letters that make up the name in your mind and that can aid in your memory
Tip #16 – Sound it out ~ The same as spelling it out, but more like a verbal memory exercise, instead of a visual one.
Tip #17 – Get the story ~ If the person’s name is out of the ordinary, get the story behind it. EVERYONE has a story behind their name, especially if their name is unique.
Tip #18 – Meaning of the name ~ Ask them if they know what their name means, it’s a good conversation piece, but before asking be sure to know the meaning of your name.
Above all, have fun with this. It’s fascinating to note, after learning some new skills, just how good your memory really can be.
Sandra MPowers, “The Connections Coach”
Helping Singles Make the Right Connections Since ‘95
SM The Company You’re Looking For!
P.O. Box 89, Bayville, NY 11709 516-802-3906
Email ~ SandraMPowers@PowersSingles.com Web Site ~ www.PowersSingles.com
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