Do you know what the most powerful and important word on the on the face of the earth is?

Your own name.

It is your identity.

Using a person’s name is the best way to build rapport with them.

The challenge is, when we first meet someone, we ask them their name, like most people, we forget it.

How do we become exceptional at remembering someone’s name?

Here are a few techniques below.

1. LISTEN AND PAY ATTENTION TO THEIR NAME.  Pay attention to their name when it’s given to you and make sure you recall it 5 seconds later.  This is halfway putting it into your long-term memory.
2. REPEAT IMMEDIATELY.  You should repeat their name immediately.  Here’s an example.  “It is a pleasure to meet you, John.” It’s best to say their name at the end of the sentence instead of the front. Saying it this way helps you remember their name quicker
3. REPEAT OFTEN. Use this technique sparingly.  Don’t over repeated because it will sound weird.
4. END THE CONVERSATION WITH THEIR NAME.  Example: “Bob, and it was great meeting you.” By ending the conversation this way shows the person you cared enough to remember their name and it helps sink it into your memory.
5. COMMENT ON AND/OR ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR NAME. Example: “Bob, have you always been called Bob or is Bob short for Robert?” If their name is unique, ask them about the origin or say it’s beautiful if you truly think it is.
6. REVIEW. After you end the conversation, review their name and face in your mind several times. Repeat this process many times over the next 24 hours. As you improve with steps 1 -5, this step will become less important.

Your memory is linked to your senses and emotions. As you connect more emotion and senses into remembering a name, it will become more difficult to forget.

Other techniques are:

1. FACE ASSOCIATION: Everyone’s face is unique. Remember a unique feature on their face. Create an association between the feature, the face, and the name in your mind. Associate the association with someone you may know, with the same name, rhyme, or image of the persons face or defining feature you know.
2. SUBSTITUTION.  Substitute objects that you can visualize with a person’s name you’re trying to remember.  Example, “Frank” can be substituted with Ball Park “Frank”.  Visualize the person at a baseball game eating a ballpark frank with all lots of ketchup on it and it’s all over his face.  The more outrageous you make the visualization, the more it will retain in your memory.  Be careful not to laugh as your visualizing this.
3. PAINT THEIR NAME ON THEIR FOREHEAD.  In your imagination, use your favorite color paint and clearly see each letter as you paint it.  If you are standing close to the person, look between their eyes and not directly at their forehead.
4. ASSOCIATION WITH SOMEONE YOU KNOW.  When you meet a person that has the same name of someone you know, think about that person.  Visualize the person you know in the same situation as the new person you have just met.

During the conversation if you forget the person’s name, don’t be afraid to ask them what their name is.  More than likely, they have forgotten yours too.  Say something like this, “Forgive me, but I forgot your name…” or “I apologize, what was your name again?”

As you practice these techniques when you meet people, it will eventually become second nature and you will stand out from the crowd.

Exercise

1. Look through magazines, school yearbooks, or any media where you see faces.  Remember the first name of at least 50 people. Try to avoid famous people.
2. As you watch a movie, commit to remembering the names of the characters.
3. Try to remember that the name of every person you meet because it makes them feel important and special.

Quote

“The secret of a good memory is attention, and attention to a subject depends upon our interest in it.  We rarely forget that which has made a deep impression on our minds.” -Tyrone Edwards (1809-1894)