Memory Improvement for Names

Remembering Names
Need memory improvement for names? Does your brain leave your body when remembering names? Are you one of those people with a horrid experience with remembering names? There are a few tricks and games to improve your memory. Give it a go ……

Memory Improvement for Names

How often have you met someone and promptly forgotten his or her name, only to meet again, and have to fumble with trying to remember who this person is? If this has happened to you, don’t worry. It happens to us all. But it’s not necessarily desirable. Whether you meet new people often, or only on occasion, there is good reason to try to improve your skills for remembering names.

First, in professional situations, a person who remembers names tends to be the type of person who remembers and pays attention to details. As you might have guessed this is usually considered quiet desirable by employers. Making the impression that you are on top of details helps you win the confidence of your boss and business associates. Besides, people like it when they are called by name. Did you know that a person’s name is their favorite word?

In social situations it’s also to your advantage to have strong name remembering skills. Again, this is because people like being called by name, and when they are remembered, it lets them know how important they are to you.



But there are simply times when it’s hard to remember names. Maybe you are meeting at a party or conference, when there is a lot of hustle and bustle going on around you and you are distracted. Or the name may be unusual and hard to remember. Here are some ideas that you can use to help you be more effective at remembering names. Try these ideas or ‘games’ to improve your memory:

* Upon being introduced to someone, pay attention and repeat the name, as in “Paula, I’m happy to meet you.” Within a few minutes, repeat the name again. If you are still talking to Paula, just use her name in the conversation. If not, picture her face in your mind and say “Paula” to yourself.

* If you are in the habit of carrying a notebook with you, take it out and jot down the name with a few details of how/where you met. Your notes might look something like this: Paula, semi-annual corporate lunch (12/7/07), accounting department. Picture Paula’s face as you do this. If you can think of additional comments, write them down, such as: “sharp dresser”, “interest in gardening”, or “very tall”. These notes on new acquaintances can be reviewed later to help you remember them better.

* Ask for the spelling of difficult or unusual names, and repeat the name back to the person.

* Use rhyming words for names. For example: Brown – crown. Picture Mr. or Ms. Brown with a crown. Or picture the person with their name emblazoned on their shirt, or even forehead.

These techniques will greatly improve your memory for names, but you still may find yourself at a loss on occasion. If this happens, rest assured that you can successfully work through this minor problem by looking this person in the eye and with a sincere smile saying something like, “I’m glad to see you again, but I must apologize. Your name has slipped my mind.” This honest, yet warm approach will go a long way to keep him or her from feeling insulted.

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