Remember NAMES 

Many leaders owe much of their success to being able to recall people by name.

          A person’s name is the most important sound they can hear.

          “I know the face but I am not sure of the name.” As you age,  name recall becomes harder. Perhaps because we have so many more names to recall.

          By setting up a memory system and developing recall methods it will help you climb the ladder to a successful career.

A handful of tips to help you remember a person’s name

* First, focus on the person and their name. Concentrate and make an effort to remember

          Discuss their name with them. ” Are you related to John Roberts in Hastings?”

“William Butcher. Have you any Butchers in your family?”

          Repeat a name before departing. “Thank you, Harry, it was good to chat. I hope we meet again soon. Goodbye Harry.”

          After meeting a new person try repeating it to yourself silently a few times. If you can do this you will have a greater chance of remembering a name.

*  Jot down the name

          Carry a small notebook and make a note of new names so you can enter them into your diary, or into your address list. Writing down the name is a good way to reinforce your memory.

          Ask for a business card and jot down memory notes on the back.  “She has a husband and two sons – Keen on gardening.”

* Review and recall

          After work try to recall and review the names of the people you met today and yesterday.

* Associate a name with an object or another person

          Foot, Baker, Wood, Moss, Butcher, Salmon.

          Longer names can often be divided into memorable sections, Smith field , Hop kirk, John son, Whart on,  Lam bert.

          Try connecting names to people you may know. A similar name to a close friend.

          Connect to physical features. Longfellow or Longshanks may be tall, Hookman may have a big nose.

* Recall prior to travelling or visiting

          If you are a people leader with employees in many towns. Look up your name files and write names and details down prior to visiting. This will aid your memory and people will be flatted when you greet them by name, especially if you have not seen them for some time.

          If you have a good assistant or a PA often they can set up and maintain your people naming and filing details. This can be a  sound investment.

-Geoffrey Moss, (mossassociates.co.nz)

“A wise person knows everything, a clever one, everybody.”

Source; “Time-Savers, Guidelines, checklists and golden rules” published by Moss Associates.Ltd, New Zealand. by McGraw-Hill, Australia; Thomson, India and in Singapore by Cengage Learning. Also available as an e-book from Amazon.com.