Monday, August 30, 2010
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.” (Isaiah 43:1)
Learning names is very important in developing personal relationships with other. Remembering names is often challenging. Try my “Clear” glue strategy for getting someone’s name to “stick” in your memory.
Learning names is very important in developing personal relationships with other. Remembering names is often challenging. Try my “Clear” glue strategy for getting someone’s name to “stick” in your memory.
Commit – Commit to pay attention. Make a conscious decision to remember people's names.
When being introduced to a new person, we are often more concerned about saying our own name, or shaking hands, or what the other person looks like (or maybe even how we look). To have any chance of remembering names, you obviously must hear and understand the person's name when they say it. This takes conscious effort and may require some practice.
Look and Listen--Look at the person. Notice physical characteristics. Is the person tall, short, large, small? Are there unusual traits? Get a strong mental image of the person. Listen clearly to the name. Ask the person to repeat his/her name if you do not hear the name clearly.
Exaggerate -- Exaggerate the images. Make them funny.
Associate -- Associate the name with an image, sound, or feeling.
If you are visual, associate the person's name with a familiar image or famous person. Jack can be pictured climbing a beanstalk. Arnold can be pictured as the “Terminator.”
President Franklin D. Roosevelt continually amazed his staff by remembering the names of nearly everyone he met. He used to imagine seeing the name written across the person's forehead.
Or create an image that links the person’s name to a physical characteristic of the person. Picture a dollar bill glued on Bill’s forehead.
If you are tuned in to sounds, make a rhyme or song using the person’s name.
Susan is a cruisin’. Larry isn’t hairy.
If you prefer to think of sensory feelings, try linking the name to the impression the person makes or to a reaction you have to the person.
Donna Pliner is a whiner.
Patty is pushy.
Repeat—Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
• Use the name immediately.
• Repeat it silently to yourself.
• Comment on the name, if possible.
• Use it occasionally in the conversation without overdoing it.
• Use it when leaving.
• Write it down afterwards.
I hope you have fun trying out these strategies!
When being introduced to a new person, we are often more concerned about saying our own name, or shaking hands, or what the other person looks like (or maybe even how we look). To have any chance of remembering names, you obviously must hear and understand the person's name when they say it. This takes conscious effort and may require some practice.
Look and Listen--Look at the person. Notice physical characteristics. Is the person tall, short, large, small? Are there unusual traits? Get a strong mental image of the person. Listen clearly to the name. Ask the person to repeat his/her name if you do not hear the name clearly.
Exaggerate -- Exaggerate the images. Make them funny.
Associate -- Associate the name with an image, sound, or feeling.
If you are visual, associate the person's name with a familiar image or famous person. Jack can be pictured climbing a beanstalk. Arnold can be pictured as the “Terminator.”
President Franklin D. Roosevelt continually amazed his staff by remembering the names of nearly everyone he met. He used to imagine seeing the name written across the person's forehead.
Or create an image that links the person’s name to a physical characteristic of the person. Picture a dollar bill glued on Bill’s forehead.
If you are tuned in to sounds, make a rhyme or song using the person’s name.
Susan is a cruisin’. Larry isn’t hairy.
If you prefer to think of sensory feelings, try linking the name to the impression the person makes or to a reaction you have to the person.
Donna Pliner is a whiner.
Patty is pushy.
Repeat—Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
• Use the name immediately.
• Repeat it silently to yourself.
• Comment on the name, if possible.
• Use it occasionally in the conversation without overdoing it.
• Use it when leaving.
• Write it down afterwards.
I hope you have fun trying out these strategies!
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