Focus on the person.
The instant you meet someone, give him or her your undivided attention. “Square your shoulders toward them, look them in the eye, shake hands, smile with your eyes, and listen—listen intently. “Make it a top priority to learn their name and engage in a meaningful way. Don’t allow yourself to become distracted; and don’t let yourself off the hook by blaming a bad memory.” Forgetting names is most often caused by lack of focus and effort, rather than a brain deficiency.
Repeat their name aloud.
You’ve probably heard this tip before—but how often do you try it? “After meeting a person, immediately say their name aloud at least twice; first as a question to confirm you heard it correctly and are pronouncing it properly, and second as a conversation starter.” This is especially helpful if you are unsure about the pronunciation or spelling.
Ask a question.
By immediately asking the person a question, you give him the opportunity to speak, which in turn gives you time to anchor his name in your memory, she explains. “It also sends the message that you’re interested in him and want to learn more about him.” One reason we often fail to remember names is that we start talking about ourselves right away, she adds. “This mistakenly takes the focus off of the other person and onto us; plus it robs us of that precious opportunity to savor and remember the ‘sweetest sound’ of their name and anchor it in our mind. By the time we finish talking, we’ve forgotten their name.” To avoid this mishap, ask a simple question to get them talking first.
Repeat his or her name silently.
As the other person is answering your question, repeat their name silently at least ten times in your mind. “Listen to what he or she is saying, and be sure to provide nonverbal cues to show you’re interested and paying attention. Then continue saying his or her name silently in your head.”
Make a vivid association between their name and something familiar to you.
As you’re silently saying to yourself his or her name, link the name with something familiar to you. “Caution: the more bizarre and exaggerated the visualization, the better.. “The other person will never know your image, so make it a memorable one.”
Conclude the interaction with his or her name.
As your interaction with person draws to a close, be sure to say their name one last time. “It was great to meet you, David, and I look forward to next time.” Afterward, write down the name for reference and recall.
