Rants, Raves, and General Observations

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What was your name again?

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Today I attended  a meeting where I was introduced to a few associates. There was a brief introduction at the beginning of the meeting and that was it!  It was up to me to assimilate the names, and remember who was who. After the meeting I needed to talk one on one with some of the individuals in attendance and it would have been embarrassing to approach the wrong person with the wrong name.

I think it is important to remember people’s names. I personally am pretty good at remembering names. When I attended the APC conference last month I was able to recall by first name many of the people I had met in the prior years. (I can wave to Susana from Washington DC, Crystal from Boston, Amy from New Mexico...) Anyway, I found this article on DeskDemon about remembering names and thought I would share it today. I think the one that works for me is “Cement the name and face together.” We all have our own triggers and maybe one of these will work for you.

This article was published on DeskDemon at:

http://www.deskdemon.com/pages/uk/information/skills/Rname

How to remember names

A person's name is very important to them. Not many of us share the ability to retain names and in truth, it is more common to forget.

Unfortunately, failure to connect a name and a face can cost you a pleasant friendship or lucrative business opportunity and tends to be a very embarrassing situation to be in.

A few practical rules can be used with great success. They require concentrated effort and practice but they work:

• When you are introduced to someone, get the name clearly
       If your host mumbles their name so you are unable to hear it clearly, don't hesitate to ask the person who is being introduced what his name is.   (But don't ask the host as he may have forgotten it – hence the reason for the mumble). The guest won't mind repeating the name correctly
• Give the name a chance to sink into your mind.
       Repeat the name aloud a couple of times in the ensuing conversation until  is has registered
• Get the face at the same time as getting the name
       Look at the person carefully. The following technique can be used here:
  • Start at the top with the hair – round, oval, thin, heavy?
  • Note the color of the eyes
  • Note the shape of the features
  • It is amazing how sharp the       image will be and how long it will remain with you.
• Cement the name and face together
  
  • Try to make a mental picture. Some names can be associated with their   business: a  contractor may be named Mr Bridges. Picture a Mr Butler as a butler.
  • Make up rhymes as memory props – Mr Ross sat on some moss. By some psychological phenomenon it will stick with you for years.
  • Paint a picture in your mind of the person doing something that reminds you of his name.
  • It may seem silly but don't forget – you are the only one who knows you are using it – and you shouldn't forget any more names in the future.

Rant! Ok not really going postal, but rant at the post office!

DeskDemon

Today’s piece is an rant! I would like to say it is very annoying when you go to the bank, or the post office and someone waits until he/she/they get to the counter to do all their paper work. I went to both today and I watched the people in front of me do just that. They waited to do their paperwork in front of the teller/postal worker. I personally wish the teller/postal worker would have sent these people to a different counter but the  workers  let them fill out the paperwork. One person at the post office must have taken a full five minutes filling out forms! This is really inconsiderate of others. I had three forms to fill out, all were done prior to getting in line! (as it should be in my eyes!)

While I was at the post office watching this person fill out forms, I thought, “I wonder if they are all the same spot and if  labels would have helped speed her process up?” Well I have no idea if she did, but I know labels are great and we should remember to use them. You can use them to save time on return addresses, if you go to a tradeshow or a conference where you may have to write your name on a form at each booth, bring labels with your information. That tip alone will save your hand from getting tired! If you send packages to the same company, take labels with you.  I cant think of how labels would save time at the bank, but hopefully you finish any deposit slips before you get in line! Rant done for today and if you went to the bank or the post office today, waited to fill out your forms at the counter, and someone was giving an evil eye… that could have been me. (Not really I don’t give an evil eye to anyone!) Until next time!