Don’t you just hate that moment when you have to turn to someone whose name you have been told and ask, “I’m sorry, but what is your name again?” And what about when you see your name printed out and it is misspelled? Do you feel slighted or insulted? Our names are so important to each of us that even when we choose to use a nick name or one that is more to our liking, it only goes to show that it was important enough to make that change.
Numerous books and self help articles have been written giving hints and tips on the ‘how to’ of remembering a person’s name. They talk about associating something else with the person, giving your mind some way to link that person with that name. While gimmicks can be helpful I would like to share with you the underlying motivation that has made it much easier for me to connect people with their name the first time I hear it.
Again, it is critical that you have a motive to get your brain in gear and if you immediately start thinking of higher sales or increased revenue, I submit you are on the wrong track.
Let me share a short story with you which I think will be enjoyable as well as give you insight into the motivation which has helped me.
Many years ago, I worked in a manufacturing enterprise in South Carolina. Twice every year, the owner of the business would allow the Red Cross to park their Bloodmobile in our parking lot so that the employees could take advantage of the opportunity to donate.
Lucky me, I was assigned the ‘privilege’ of going throughout the plant to encourage, cajole and motivate people to sign up to donate. Needless to say, I was not welcomed with much enthusiasm and after a considerable amount of time, there were still many open spaces on the sign up sheet. This is where the ‘Aha’ moment comes in! One of the sweet young ladies working there asked me if she signed up, would we call her name over the loud speakers in the factory. After a split second of stunned silence I assured her that absolutely we would call her name out over the loud speakers so that she would know when it was her turn to go to the Bloodmobile to donate. She smiled and signed right up.
Armed with this information, I moved on to the next person, asking them if they would donate, ending with the assurance that we would call their name over the loud speakers so they wouldn’t accidentally work through their opportunity to participate in our blood drive. One by one, when they heard that their name would be called out for all to hear, they signed up and the sheet was soon filled.
As I meditated on this experience, it slowly dawned on me that people would willingly give up some of their life’s blood just to hear their name spoken out loud over the public address system. Their name mattered that intensely to them.
Since that time, I have been motivated, not by ‘what is in it for me’ to remember people’s names, but rather by the absolute importance to that other person that I get their name right.
Use whatever gimmicks or tips which work for you when you are introduced to someone new, but be motivated by knowing that people will give up some of their life’s blood over their name. Attach that importance to it and their name will tend to stay with you.