7 Ways to Remember Names!

Practice makes Perfect

Remembering names is hard, especially when you're meeting a lot of new people at once! Check out these recommendations so you can be sure to remember your new acquaintance's name.

1. Meet and RepeatWhen you get someone's name, don't just nod and continue the conversation, try to plug the name into what you're saying. For example, if the man in front of you says his name is Mark, say, "Hi, Mark, nice to meet you." Or ask a question with his name at the end, "How long have you been working in IT, Mark?" Use the name throughout the conversation, but sparingly, and not in an overly sales-y or repetitive way. Make sure you use their name one last time when saying goodbye!

2. Spell It OutPsychiatrist and memory expert Dr. Gary Small suggests asking someone to spell his or her name, especially if it's an unusual one. This technique can be helpful if you have a visual memory, as it creates a mental picture of the person's name.It may also be helpful to ask for a business card, and to glance at the person's name while you're talking to them. This creates greater alignment between the person and the visual name.

3. AssociateMany experts suggest that you conjure a verbal game or image when you first hear a name. This could be an alliterative pattern involving something you know about the person, i.e. Forbes.com contributor Helen Coster gives the catchy example of "Joann from Jersey." Or consider something about the person's interests or job, i.e. Sarah's in sales, so Sarah Sells.

4. Make ConnectionsAnother way association can be helpful is to make a connection between the person you're talking to, and someone else you know with the same name, for example, a family member, or even a celebrity. It might be harder to make the association, but once you do, it's locked in.

5. Choose to CareMost psychologists and memory experts point out that one of the main reasons we forget someone's name is that we're not really focused on learning it in the first place. There's too much else going on, and it's vying for our attention.Author Keith Ferrazzi's first piece of advice for remembering names is to decide to care. "If you make a conscious decision that you are going to remember names," he explains, "because you care about the people you meet, you will immediately become much better at doing it!"

6. Write it DownWhile you're practicing at becoming better at remembering names, you could keep a little notebook with you (or you could use your smart phone or other phone if it accepts notes). When you talk to someone new, write their name down in your notebook. Do this immediately after you've finished talking, and you might even like to add some notes about the person's looks and personality, and where you met, in what month, etc. This way, you can look through your notes every day or week, and try to remember eachentry. Example for note: "John, met him at the office in May. Tall, lean guy with glasses. Was very nice!"

7. Trust Yourself!It's easy to accept that you are bad at remembering names, but don't go around thinking that about yourself! You're not "Ben, the guy who can't remember names", and you shouldn't tell that to everyone you meet. In doing so, you're effectively telling your own mind that it's hopeless for you to remember, and you're letting other people know that you really can't be bothered trying. Commit to improving yourself and tell yourself that you can be good at remembering names.

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