Have you ever ran into someone that you know and their name is right on the tip of your tongue or you see someone and just can’t place where you might know them from. Then you have that awkward moment where you are stumbling trying not to mention the persons name because you are too embarrassed to ask them their name especially if they have already greeted you formally with first and last name.

I have come across plenty of individuals who have this issue especially when networking. Many individuals by the next day or even within the next hour have forgotten most of the names and faces associated with the cards that they have collected for the night. Fact is we have all been there before and felt quite ashamed when someone remembers us and we cannot reciprocate it. I have found a wonderful article on eHow.com on how to remember names and associate it with certain attributes of the person so that you will never forget them.

I hope the following information is as helpful to you as it has been to me, Enjoy.

The most important step in professional or social networking is to remember the names of the people you meet. That can be difficult to do, especially if you meeting numerous people at the same time. The following steps will help you improve your memory and provide memorization techniques to help you remember people’s names. By doing so, you will make a connection with them, and they will remember you!

1. If you want to improve your ability to remember names, when first introduced to a person, make sure you find out what their name is. If they don’t offer their name, ask them for it. When they tell you, repeat their name back to them by saying something like “Nice to meet you, Susan.”
2. Ask for a business card, and closely read the name, while taking in the details of the business card. This is an example of a visual memorization technique and is particularly helpful for uncommon or difficult to pronounce names. The logo on the card will provide a visual association with the person’s name.
3. While in a conversation with that person, consciously use their name 2 or 3 more times when talking to them. For example, “What projects are you working on, Tom?” or “So, Sarah, where did you go to school?”
4. Focus on a particular physical trait of that person, and consciously connect the name to that trait. Say to yourself, “Dan with the mustache.”, “Sarah with the curly hair”,”Dave with the red rimmed glasses”.

Below is a video that addresses how to remember names during an introduction and exhibits some of the tips above:

Remember these Key Tips and Warnings:

1. Repetition is key if you want to get better at remembering people’s names. So whether in conversation or just internally, use that person’s name multiple times to enforce the connection between the person and the name.
2. If you forget the name, you can ask the person again a little later. Although not ideal, this is the only chance you’ll have where it will be acceptable to tell the person you don’t remember.

Source : eHow

Popularity: 9% [?]