Remembering Names

Submitted by Chuck Tomasi
in
Hiring
I saw this one today and immediately thought of the Manager Tools listeners. I'll be we've all seen this (or done this) in the past. http://pcweenies.com/2009/02/25/the-name-of-the-game/ I know there was a MT podcast about remembering names, but my search came up empty. Does anyone else remember it, or have better search results than I?
Submitted by Davis Staedtler on Thursday February 26th, 2009 12:15 am

The most sticky point on remembering names for me is becoming obsessed with their name, and not worrying so much about remembering what they do. It's so much better to have them repeat what they do for a living or where they live than it is for them to repeat their name.

Their name is gold.

-Davis

Submitted by John Hack on Thursday February 26th, 2009 7:35 am

Davis,

If you haven't listened to podcast, you should. The advice there is gold.

BTW, you shouldn't ask them to repeat anything unless you genuinely didn't hear what they said. You speak their name, and focus ONLY on remembering their name the first time you meet them.

John

Submitted by Davis Staedtler on Thursday February 26th, 2009 7:26 pm

John,

I have and it's great. I didn't remember the part about not repeating anything unless I didn't hear it so thanks for that reminder.

True confession... I'm the manager that actually gets called out by Mark in that Podcast, so this is funny again! :)

-Davis

Submitted by John Hack on Thursday February 26th, 2009 10:30 pm

Davis,

They didn't say it, exactly, in the podcast, that's just my extrapolation of their guidance...

And man, I have done some pretty socially inept things myself, so that story of you telling the other person "Tell me your name again!" really struck a chord.

Thanks for the confession!

John

Submitted by Davis Staedtler on Thursday February 26th, 2009 10:37 pm

John,

You're welcome! Mark and I had a good laugh. It was a teachable moment let's say.

-D

Submitted by Jerel Bonner on Thursday May 21st, 2009 8:43 am

I was talking to someone in my network the other night. He told me he ran into another friend of mine that I had introduced him to a couple of months ago, and he could not remmber the other persons name. I told him about this cast, and afterwards he gave me a quick tip, that I just had to share here.
He said that if he can't remember a person's name, it could be highly likely that this person might not remember his name either. So, he let's the other person off the hook by just saying " Hi, I'm...... we met a while back, please remind me of your name I forgot it." Now the other person can just answer with their name without feeling embarrassed.
Now I have a nice way out in the future, if I forget!

Submitted by Miroslav Jeliazkov on Thursday May 21st, 2009 9:26 am

Good idea! I may try it next time. Still it may be offending to them that you think they don't remember your name. What happens if they say "Yes I remember your name very well..." thinking for themselves "...obviously you do not remember mine..."
Definitely, apologizing and moving on is good for most cases too. As it was mentioned, it shows you are honest and not afraid to admit a mistake. Just do not repeat it often with the same person.
I guess the choice depends on the case and comfort level you have with each approach.