It’s embarrassing to be introduced to someone and forget their name 2 seconds later. We’re so busy worrying about what we’re going to say next that we never really hear names in the first place.
The Memory Book offers a simple technique to fix this: You associate a new person’s name, face, and other attributes with something crazy. I tend to imagine something sticking through people’s heads, but you’ll develop your own pattern.
Here are examples for people I’ve met recently:
- Preston = Picture him with a top hat doing magic. “Presto!”
- Charles = A crowned king sitting on “charcoal”. “Charles the Great”
- Tesse = Has taken Ms. “Tessmacher’s” place as Lex Luthor’s squeeze.
- Ben = Imagined him riding a chariot like Judah “Ben” Hur.
- Yasmine = “Jasmine” flowers sticking out of her head at all angles. I actually pictured calla lilies because they’re more striking than jasmine. The association doesn’t have to be accurate, just unusual enough to be memorable.
When you know the person’s job it’s easy to use that as an association. Bartenders and baristas work in distinctive places and tend to wear uniforms. They’re also overworked and under appreciated so if you smile, say hello, and remember their name, they’re likely to remember that you like your scotch neat and your coffee black. Here are some examples:
- Stephanie = Has a 6’ brass “bar” or “staff” though her head.
- Rachel = Has a big “ratchet” on her head while wearing a green apron.
When you’re meeting an entire group of people at once it’s hard to quickly form associations. In those situations do the best you can, and repeat people’s names as they’re said. Get at least one name down solid so you can talk to them first. Ask them “how they know everyone” and they’ll repeat everyone’s names for you.
If you need more help there are lots of other techniques.
2 Comments ↓
When I was a bartender (years ago), the way I remembered names was a. motivation (remembering that remembering names = tips), b. intention (consciously focusing on the person) and c. making up a little rhyme with the name, the goofier the better.
Of course anyone who drinks scotch neat is worth remembering just for that.
Actually, (going stream of consciousness here) pretty much everyone remembers your name when you’re the only woman working in a bar, but it’s also important to know that any experienced bartender will answer to absolutely any name that is spoken in a slightly raised voice with a question mark at the end. Bottom line: useful skill.
Thanks for the tips Havi. You use rhymes, so if you’re a verbal learner you’d probably take to the number remembering trick in that book. It involves substituting numbers for consonants to make words and sentences.