REMEMBERING NAMES
WELCOME
The purpose of this training course is to give you the tools to be able to meet a new person and be able to remember their name and other facts about them in the future.
You get to practice with faces on this programme instead of being nervous with people in the “real world.”
THE CONCEPT
The concept is to match a person’s name (and other information) with a memorable feature.
A memorable feature is one which is easily recognised and likely to still be a feature the next time you meet them. The feature you choose is almost always above the neck.
It will usually be the first thing you notice about that person. It will often be something unusual that sets them apart from other people.
Obvious things are scars, birthmarks, unusual hair, deep facial lines or some feature abnormally large or oddly shaped (nose, eyebrows, etc).
CHOOSING
If the person does not have something you consider unique, or if nothing seems to stand out, then go for shape of the face, hair, chin or whatever catches your attention on second inspection.
When you later use the technique, it will still be effective.
The most effective approach is to choose the feature when they are still some distance away.
If you can pick out a feature at 6 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters), it’s very likely this same feature will be very memorable at 2 to 4 feet (about 1 meter), which is a comfortable social distance (closer in Europe).
ACTION
With the feature picked out, you are now waiting for their name. You will then (creatively) merge their name with the feature. With many of the more common names you will already know what to do.
It will simply be a matter of SEEING the action and SAYING the action.
ACTION is very important. Make things move and your memory will be strengthened. Also be outrageous or silly with your interactions. Using obvious or predictable connections will NOT make as strong an impression.
FAMOUS PERSON / KNOWN NAME:
If you meet someone who has the same name as someone you know (either casually or a celebrity), imagine that other person walking up to the person you just met and doing something with their feature. In the future, you will wonder why your friend (“Carol” or “George”) is in your memory fussing with the feature. In a moment you will remember that they have the same name as this person!
This technique is known as Association.
WHAT IT TAKES
Imagine you met 50 people, and 49 of them simply shook your hand.
However, one person jumped up and down, howled like a baboon and ran around you poking your ribs and shouting “OOH OOH OOH!” very loudly.
Which of the people would you remember a week later? Obviously, the obnoxious one!
Why? Because there was action, physical interaction, and your emotions came into play. More of your senses were involved. Your brain stored the experience differently.
You need to do the same thing to help you remember normal people.
YOU have to make an impression FOR them- on yourself.
You have to make an impression and associate it with that person. When you do, recalling their name and other facts will be simple.
REPETITION
If you want to remember people for a LONG time, then a bit of repetition can go a long way. From time to time, look over your notes and/or pictures of people. Recall the little story you made up and be SURE it is anchored to their feature.
ORGANIZATION
Keep an organized file that is cross-referenced for both a person’s name and what group they may belong to. For example, all the people in a company you are going to visit. Microsoft Excel can work well for this.
PRACTICE
Until you are fully ready, practice first just looking at people. Start with people you are NOT about to meet, and simply choose the feature you would use if you were to meet them. Do this with 50 to 100 people as they walk past.
Once you feel competent with choosing features, have a list of names ready, both male and female. As the person goes past, choose the feature and then look at your list. Imagine meeting them and making up a story to match their name to their feature. Do this 50 to 100 times until you feel competent.
You can keep expanding your skills by making up a hobby, profession, etc. to with it. Once you know you can do it, start remembering names first, then add other facts as you can. You will probably find your progress is very fast!
