Get Ready for Finals
Nine Tricks if You're Bad With Names
Filed under: Make an Impression Print Article
Posted Oct 16th 2009 3:14PM
CareerBuilder.com
Two strangers meet at a networking function. One person speaks up first. "Hi, I'm Laura Mulford," she says, offering her hand to her partner.
"Raj Babu," he responds with a handshake. "Nice to meet you." The whole exchange takes less than four seconds. Ten minutes later, neither person can remember the other's name.
Ah, names. Some people have gift for remembering them. But for far too many of us, they go in one ear and right out the other. Unfortunately, referring to everyone as "hey" or "you" can be suicide when it comes to networking.
"Raj Babu," he responds with a handshake. "Nice to meet you." The whole exchange takes less than four seconds. Ten minutes later, neither person can remember the other's name.
Ah, names. Some people have gift for remembering them. But for far too many of us, they go in one ear and right out the other. Unfortunately, referring to everyone as "hey" or "you" can be suicide when it comes to networking.
"In networking, names are the good stuff," say Anne Barber and Lynne Waymon, co-authors of 'Make Your Contacts Count' (Amacom). "It will be mighty difficult for you to initiate a relationship with someone if you don't know that person's name."
If remembering others' names is downright impossible for you, try out these tips from Barber and Waymon:
1. Repeat the first name or confirm the last name.
Simply saying, "It's nice to meet you, Chuck" or "and your last name was...?" will help you register the name and give it a better chance to implant itself into your memory.
2. Ask a question or make a comment about the person's name.
"Nice to meet you, Julia. My college roommate's name was Julia, so I'll have no problem remembering you."
3. Ask the person to spell his or her name.
"Abby, do you spell your name with a 'y' or with an 'ie'?"
4. Associate the name with a picture in your mind.
If you meet a CEO named Arthur, visualize him as King Arthur with the knights of the Round Table. "Some people like this technique; others say it confuses them," warn Barber and Waymon. "Only use it if it's helpful."
5. Ask how the person got his name.
"Savannah
6. Tell the person what you have heard about him.
"I heard you organized this whole event, Peter."
7. Keep your energy level high.
Let your body language and tone of voice signal that you are honestly trying to learn the other person's name and teach her yours. According to Barber and Waymon, people say this is flattering.
8. Always say the person's name again as you leave her.
"It was good to meet you, Jen."
9. Handle forgotten names with grace.
No, whining about how bad you are with names is not graceful. Instead, ask a friend to remind you, or if you can recall where you met that person, say "I remember meeting you at the conference in Seattle
Always remember: making small talk about a person's name may take time, but it could save you embarrassment later on!
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Etiquette Tip of the Week:
When invited to someone's home for dinner or for a party, bring a hostess (or host) gift, such as a small box of quality chocolates, attractive note cards or anything you know your host or hostess has an interest in, such as a book, DVD, kitchen gadget or gourmet coffee. Send flowers ahead of time, such as earlier that afternoon. Bringing flowers with you may impose on an already busy hostess, who must find a vase and get the flowers into water. And she may already have flowers or a centerpiece on the table.
A hostess gift of food or alcohol is to be enjoyed by the hostess and host at a later time or served at the hostess's discretion. Do not bring a food gift with the intent of sampling it yourself.
As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com
Quote from the Office:
“Cause he plays the tuba ………..and I play the tuba.” -Eli
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