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Simple
Tricks To Remembering Names
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By
Helen Coster,
Is it Joe or
Jim? Sally or Susan? Here's some help.
Plenty of business deals
(and romantic rendezvous) have been foiled because
someone failed to recall the right name at the right
time. There are tricks to remembering names. Benjamin
Levy, author of Remember Every Name Every Time,
advocates the FACE method: "focus, ask, comment and
employ." Focus: Lock in on the person's face. Ask:
Inquire which version he prefers ("Is it Ted or
Theodore?"). Comment: Say something about the name and
cross-reference it in your head ("My college roommate's
name was Ted.") Employ: Put the name to use--"Nice
seeing you, Ted"--to drive it home. Here are nine more
tricks.
1. Repeat, Repeat, Repeat
The most surefire strategy
is to repeat the person's name--both in your head, and
out loud--as soon as possible after you've been
introduced. Occasionally use the person's name in
conversation. "Pleasure to meet you, Bob," or "Bob, so
good to see you." Don't overdo it, of course, but don't
worry that Bob will recoil, either. He'd rather you
remember his name than not.
2. Picture This
Turn someone's name into an
image that you can remember. When you meet Shirley,
think of a Shirley temple. Don't laugh--it works.
3. Spell It Out
Another imagery-based
tactic: Ask someone to spell out his or her name. If you
can picture the letters in your mind, you'll have a
better chance of remembering the name. A derivation on
that: Imagine the person's name written across his
forehead, like a billboard.
4. Connect
Try to associate names with
things people tell you about themselves (careers,
hobbies) that will trigger the sound or association of
the name in your mind. Fred likes to fish, Margarita
runs a bar, you get the idea.
5. Lead the Way
If you know that your name
will be hard to remember or pronounce, do other people a
favor and help them out. They'll return the favor--or,
if you're chatting with a Mike or a Bob, maybe they'll
make some big production out of their own common name,
making it stick in your mind.
6. Put Pen to Paper
It's not enough to write
down a person's name as soon as possible after meeting
them. Record the name in a "new contacts" file, and
include when and where you met.
7.
Speak Up
Embarrassing as it seems, don't
be afraid to ask someone to
repeat his or her name. Start
out with a compliment, such as
"I've had so much fun talking
with you, and I've completely
forgotten your name." If you
realize you've blanked on a name
a few seconds after
introduction, just say "I'm
sorry, I missed your name."
8.
Prime the Pump
You
spy a person, whose name you've
forgotten, making her way toward
you. What to do? If you're
speaking with someone you know,
introduce them right off the
bat. The newcomer will probably
introduce herself on her own.
Problem solved
Courtesy: http://www.forbes.com/
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