In the last post, I shared some tips on how to create a successful business network. Part of creating a successful network is remembering the names of the people that you meet along the way. If you remember, my first tip was to be real and genuine. Naturally, knowing people’s names is part of this. Just imagine how you would feel if someone never remembered your name! So here are some tips to help you make sure that you do not forget the names of the people that you want to become part of your network.
First of all, make sure that you are listening when you are introduced. A lot of people do not remember other people’s names simply because they do not catch it in the first place. Why do you think you hear the question “What’s your name AGAIN?” so many times? If I were you, I would forget about trying to impress others and trying to be overly brilliant during introductions. Just be sincere and catch the other person’s name in the first place.
Second, don’t be embarrassed to ask for the spelling of an unusual name. Not everyone is named John or Pat. If you meet someone with a unique name, do not hesitate to ask him or her to spell it if necessary. This will help you with the next tip….
Third, visualize the name. This works really well for visual people like me. When I try to memorize plate numbers or phone numbers, what I do is imagine the numbers and letters in my mind. It is a sure fire trick for remembering the sequence. Same thing with names; now you can see why asking a person to spell out a strange name can be useful.
Any other tricks?
Originally posted on December 17, 2010 @ 4:21 pm