Remember Names

Almost everyone experiences some difficulty remembering people's names--somtimes only seconds after being introduced. The main reason for this name-memory challenge is that often we are not fully paying attention--we are hearing, but not truly listening. Fortunately, for those who take solace in being "good with faces," there are many easy-to-learn strategies to make remembering names easy.

It is helpful to repeat the person's name during initial conversation, or to comment on how the person reminds you of someone else you know of the same name. If a person has a complicated or unfamiliar name, you might ask how to spell it. Sometimes just visualizing an image of the name spelled out will fix it into your memory. Using a person’s name when saying goodbye will also help secure it into your memory bank.

Perhaps the most effective method for remembering names and faces uses three basic memory skills I call Look, Snap, and Connect. First, make sure you consciously listen and observe the name (Look). Then create a mental snapshot (Snap) of the name and the face. Finally, Connect the name snap with the face snap.

To create a visual Snap for the face, pick out a feature that may be easy to remember. Simply look at the person’s face and search for the most distinguishing feature—for example, a small nose, large ears, unusual hair, or deep wrinkles. Often the first outstanding feature you notice is the easiest to recall later.

In creating a Snap for the name, note that all names can be placed into two groups: those that have a meaning and invoke a visual image, and those that don’t. Names like Carpenter, Kratz, House, Bishop, Siegel, White, or Silver all have a meaning and can readily bring to mind an image. After meeting Mrs. Siegel, think of a seagull.

Other names that have no immediate meaning may require additional mental effort to remember. However, the names or the syllables and sounds within them can be associated with a substitute name or sound that does have a meaning. By linking these substitute words together, you can create a visual image that works. Sometimes we can break a name into syllables that contain meanings, and link them afterward. For example, the name George Waters could be remembered through an image of a gorge with a stream of water rushing into it. The word or syllable substitutes do not need to be exact. Jane Shirnberger could be a chain draped over a shined shoe that steps on a burger. I sometimes prefer seeing a famous person with the same name. So Jane Shirnberger becomes Jayne Mansfield wearing shined shoes and eating a burger.

In the final step, you Connect the name to the face by creating a mental image involving both your visual snapshots: the Snap for the distinguishing facial feature and the Snap for the name. For example, if Mrs. Beatty has prominent lips, an effective face snap for her might be her lips, and the name snap might be an image of Warren Beatty. Connect them by visualizing Warren Beatty kissing her on the lips (but don’t tell Annette Bening about this).

The images and substitute words need not be perfect. The process of thinking up the images and making the connections will fix them into memory so you never forget a name and face again.

Written by Gary Small
The Experts' Guide to 100 Things Everyone Should Know How to Do
Created by Samantha Ettus