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Simple trick for remembering peoples names at networking events
I used to forget someones name like 2 minutes after meeting them. Then I started saying their name out loud 3 times during the first conversation. Like 'so John, what brought you here today' then later 'John that makes a lot of sense' and then 'good meeting you John'. I tried this at a conference in Austin last month and remembered 11 out of 12 names the next day. Anyone else found a weird trick that actually works?
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murphy.aaron2d ago
Oh yeah that trick is solid! I actually do something similar but I add a little mental picture to go with it. Like if I meet a guy named Mark who mentions he just ran a marathon, I picture a big checkmark over his head because he marks things off his list. Sounds dumb but it sticks way better than just repeating the name. I also try to use their name when I introduce them to someone else because that forces me to say it in a natural way. The key is not being creepy about it though, if you say their name too many times in a row they start looking at you funny. Your method of spacing it out through the conversation is probably the smartest way to go since it feels normal.
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ellioth372d ago
Repetition like that works everywhere, it is just how our brains lock in info we want to keep.
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My buddy Jake taught me this trick when we were studying for finals back in college. He would write down the name of a concept three times in a row on a scrap of paper, then fold it up and stick it in his pocket. He said it was like his brain knew to keep that info safe because he physically handled it. I tried it with foreign language vocab and it actually worked way better than flash cards for me. The act of writing it out multiple times in a row locked it in without me having to stare at it for half an hour.
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