Ways to remember the people you just met

The following is taken from my book The Universal Guide to Business Networking. You can learn more about the book HERE.

Remembering The People You Just Met

One of everyone's favorite words to hear is their own
name. When you are meeting someone for the first time,
you can make that meeting more memorable for both of
you by sprinkling their name throughout the conversation.
They'll enjoy it because you keep uttering their favorite
sound. You will enjoy it because it improves your memory
of them and your meeting.

Saying their name is important, but if you really want to
solidify the connection in your brain, also make an
association.

When looking at the person, can you make an association
about their physical appearance? My friend Barry Demp
presents on "The Do's and Don'ts of Networking" and
talks about name associations. Barry is balding so he
associates the name Barry with the word Bald. It certainly
works.

Greg Wolf uses the catch phrase "The only wolf you want
at your door." It's certainly nice when people give you the
associations so you don't have to think about them, but
what if you don't have that luxury? Tie their most obvious
feature tot their name. If they have curly hair and their
name is Carol, it's pretty easy. If they have a large curved
nose and their name is Peter, maybe you can think- Okay
Peter has a hooked nose. Peter Pan had Captain Hook.
This guy has a Captain Hook nose from Peter Pan. Captain
Hook Nose= Peter. You get it.

Sometimes tying it to their clothes is easier to do. No one
will ever forget the knot hat Aretha Franklin wore to sing
at President Obama's inauguration. Sure you can pull the
letters for "hat" out of her name, but it's just as easy to
remember ugly hat*9 Aretha. Just don't depend on her
wearing the same hat the next time you see her.

*9 Okay, that's my opinion.

Here is the #1 secret to remembering people's names:
LISTEN to them when they tell you. You can't remember
something you never knew. We are so busy conjuring up
some great story or some good response when others are
speaking that we don't ever really hear their name in the
beginning. That is the key. We have to hear it AND be
listening the first time they say it.

Don't worry about what you are about to say to impress them. If you are listening, the right words will fall out of your mouth when needed.

You may also write down some notes on their business
card. Rewriting their name will also help. Turns out Bill
Clinton used to carry a note book and write the names of
the people he just met in it. (I wonder what was written
next to Monica's name.) The more notes you have, the
more likely you are to remember the conversation, and
more importantly be able to tell them a story so that they
will remember you too. Be careful about cultural differences with this tip. As an example Japanese business professionals find the practice of writing on cards HIGHLY insulting.