Remembering Names and Faces

Let’s face it: remembering names and faces isn’t just an important part of being a successful social butterfly – it can have a huge impact on your career as well!

For example, let’s take a look at this scenario. You’ve been invited to a big networking conference for your industry – and once you get there, you realize you don’t know a single soul.

After spending a few minutes by the appetizer table, you get to know a few peers who have great connections with the bigger names in your industry.

Suddenly, your coworker arrives and walks over to join you. You greet your coworker warmly, turn to your new friends, and say…

“Jim, I’d like you to meet…urm…I’m sorry, what were your names again?”

Talk about an embarrassing social faux pas!

You don’t need a professional networking coach to remind you that remembering names and faces is a crucial part of any successful career.

No one likes being made to feel as though they’re instantly forgettable – and when you forget someone’s name, that’s how they feel.

It’s not exactly the best start to a working relationship with a new client or potential coworker, now is it?

Remembering names and faces is also important for your personal life as well. If you truly want to impress at your next party or event, the last thing you want to do is to make people feel awkward when you forget their names.

Luckily, you don’t need a brain transplant to acquire the ability to remember names and faces. In fact, all you need are a few brain exercises that are proven to improve your memory!

The Real Reason Why You Can’t Remember Those Names

It’s easy to write this social faux pas off as the result of a poor memory. However, if you want to learn how to remember names and faces, then it’s time to stop putting the blame on your short term memory – and start shouldering the blame yourself.

So if your memory skills aren’t to blame, then what are some of the main reasons why you can’t recall the name of your new business contact?

Bad Attitude.

It’s like a self-fulfilling prophecy: the more you believe that you suffer from memory loss, the more likely it is that you’ll forget someone’s name altogether.

But let’s face it – if you want to recover from this social faux pas, then you’ll need to take away your crutch (i.e. your “poor long term memory”) and start pumping yourself up with a more positive outlook.

One important note: if you want to take away the memory excuse as a crutch, then you need to stop apologizing to new contacts about how “terrible” you are with names. You may feel as though you’re making up for your poor memory, but trust me: you’re only emphasizing your unprofessional behavior!

Lack of Focus.

If you continually forget new names and faces, then your memory isn’t to blame; rather, it’s your complete lack of focus. Too often, we’re focused on our own selves when we meet new people.

If you’re too busy wondering how you look in your outfit or if you have any food stuck in between your teeth, then you’re not giving your new contact enough focus to retain information about their name.

Take a deep breath and let go of your insecurities. Focus completely on them – you’ll break that nasty habit of forgetting names almost instantly!

Information Overload.

Sometimes the blame for forgetting names and faces isn’t our fault at all; rather, it’s due to the fact that we were simply overloaded with too much information. If you’ve been introduced to a large group of people, have the person who made the introductions quietly remind you of everyone’s names later. That way, you’ll save face – and impress everyone with your acute attention to detail.

How to Increase Concentration and Improve Your Memory

Ready to kiss that nasty habit of forgetting

names and faces good-bye? Then use these tips and techniques to increase concentration and improve your memory:

Repeat, Repeat, Repeat.

They say that the way to Carnegie Hall is practice, practice, practice – and if you want to remember names and faces, then you need to repeat, repeat, repeat! When you’re first introduced to someone new, make it a habit of repeating their name at least two or three times in the space of the conversation.

For example, if you’ve been introduced to David, the office assistant from the Accounting Department, start out by saying: “David, it’s a real pleasure to meet you.” As you continue to talk to David, say his name a couple of more times. For example: “David, I hear you can type faster than anyone in the building. Is that true?”

With this great memory technique, you won’t forget a new name or face anytime soon!

Use Descriptive Words

• This technique is an oldie, but it’s certainly a classic goodie: if you want to remember someone’s name, use a simple descriptive word that you can associate with their face. For example, if you meet a woman named Rachel who has red cheeks, you can (internally) refer to her as “Rosy Rachel.”

If you meet a new acquaintance named Frank

who smells of too much cologne, you can label him as “Fragrant Frank.” It doesn’t matter if the descriptive words seem silly or childish – if they help you to remember names and faces, then it’s worth it!

Remember the Positive Impact.

When you remember someone’s name, think about how good it makes the other person feel – especially if it’s been some time since you’ve talked to them. Doesn’t it make you feel great to know how happy you made someone?

Strive to achieve this same result whenever you meet someone new. Remember, if you focus on learning their name, concentrate on connecting the name with a descriptive word and do your best to believe in yourself…

…Then the ability to remember names and faces will instantly come to you!

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Powerful Ways to Sharpen Your Memory