Source: digitalmomblog.com
Sorry, what was your name again?
Maybe you have been repeating this sentence several times in the past, or at least a paraphrase of it, because you did not remember a person’s name that you have met before. In fact, it is probably not your memory problem that you are not remembering that name. By definition, remembering means being able to recall the information that you already know. The time that you met that person before might have been your first occasion that you saw each other, and at that particular moment your focus might have been oriented elsewhere and not in even listening to his/her name. Instead, it is probably because you were trying to think about the things that you are going to say and the facts that you want to mention about yourself that would best represent yourself and make a good impression.
From that point comes the first tip that would help you learn and recall other people’s names later on: Rather than just focusing on how to give a good impression about yourself in front of others, try to also to learn their names. Remembering their names represents a dose of interest from your side about the other person. After hearing the other person telling about his/her name, try to repeat it loudly in front of him/her. This would be another source of enforcement in your brain, rather than just simply hearing another random word.
The second tip that can also be beneficial in remembering other people’s names is repeating their names several times after the first time you met them, for example: “Good morning Betim.” This way you are not only going to be able to engrain that name in your memory, but you will also protect yourself from being embarrassed and also being called as a person who cannot remember. Sometimes, other people’s definitions and identifications about you can dictate your future actions, where you are unconsciously forced to act according to those identifications.
I have already written an article on how to remember better by mentioning some proven techniques that were given by grandmasters of memory, but this article is more focused about two techniques that I have found beneficial in remembering other people’s names. Usually, there are a few minor changes that can yield remarkable results, and these two tips, though can sound as simple, but they might have a major impact.
