Playing the Name Game
One of the worst feelings in life, apart from tripping over in public and wondering how many people saw you, is forgetting someone’s name when you know you were just told it.
In the world of first impressions when you are trying to assert yourself as a “real professional”, feeling yourself stammer and avoiding calling someone by their first name is tres awkward not to mention obvious.
The situation goes from bad to worse when you join a new organization and meet a hundred different people from a hundred departments and can’t remember the name of your boss over the sandwich guy.
Forbes (the fancy business people) have some great hints for remembering names in a corporate setting and these simple tricks may go a long way in the campaign against being the awkward new person who has to call everyone “mate”.
1st- Repeat the name. As soon as you hear it say it in your head and try to say it out loud again in a sentence as soon as possible.
2nd- Use word play or word association. Think of a mnemonic device or alliteration to go along with the name so you can associate something with them to help you remember in the future.
3rd- Make up a nickname. Try to keep this in your back pocket as a last resort and if you must do this, please make it something plausible. Don’t call anyone Slagathor.
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