One of the most famous lines from the theme song for the hit show “Cheers” is: “You wanna go where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came.” Reading those words always brings a smile to my face. It reminds me of the warm feeling you get from hearing your name called out by your friends when you enter a room. It’s a sense of recognition and belonging. Don’t we all like that feeling?
Chris Cooley, the former Redskins football player, received some valuable advice early in his career from the legendary sportscaster George Michaels. He told Cooley that the key to getting all the local sports writers to write positive things was to always remember them and call them by their name when you saw them. Cooley said that he used this advice throughout his career and it worked like a charm.
Now you might be thinking, “How could I ever forget the name of my best client or my business partner?” Most people usually don’t have too much trouble remember the names of people they see every day. But what about the receptionist at your best client’s office who can decide whether or not to pass your call through to the client? What about the building engineer who can unlock the office door for you after hours when you realize you forgot your phone? These are the kinds of people whose names might ordinarily slip through the cracks but which it could be very helpful to remember.
It’s not always easy, but there are things you can do to help improve your name retention:
- Walk right up to the person when you first meet them and introduce yourself. Repeat the person’s name back to them: “It’s good to meet you, Joe.”
- Write the person’s name down several times before a meeting, and say it to yourself.
- Use their name often in conversation (though this can feel stilted if you over-do it)
- Mentally connect the things you know about the person with their name, especially if there is some sort of mnemonic device or alliteration you can use. For example, Gary loves golf. Rowing requires a lot of conditioning; Ro is an athlete.
The bottom line is making sure you remember names will require additional concentration and focus on your part, but it is well worth the effort. Think about how you feel when other people recognize you by remembering your name, and pass that feeling onto others by remember their names.
Have a great weekend,
Ro