The first tip here is the most important. Unless you’re a hermit living in isolation, you’ll have to make thousands of introductions to strangers throughout your lifetime—and like death and taxes, personal introductions can’t be avoided. Unfortunately, most of us forget the other person’s name as soon as the introduction is over. Here is how a typical scenario plays out:
The other person says to you: “Hi, I’m Sasha”You respond by presenting your own name: “Nice to meet you, Sasha. I’m Philip.”A split-second later, you totally forget Sasha’s name because your mind is too pre-occupied thinking about the next thing you’re going to say to carry the conversation forward, or too focused on listening to Sasha talk. Likewise, Sasha also totally forgets your name.The conversation might proceed for a few minutes, and then by the time you and Sasha part ways, neither of you can remember the other’s name, but you’re both too embarrassed to ask for it again.The main lesson here is that if you don’t make an active effort to remember someone’s name the first time someone tells you, it can be difficult to find your next chance. You can ask a friend, of course, but it’s better to just remember their name the first time around. Let’s revisit our same introduction scenario again for a better way:
The other person says to you: “Hi, I’m Sasha.”As soon as you hear her name, get in the habit of repeating it in your head a few times: Sasha, Sasha, Sasha. If you want to practice saying it out loud a few times, ask about their name. “Sasha, that’s spelled S-A-S-H-A?” or “How do you spell that?” The purpose is just to hear the name a few times to help you to remember. This step should only take a few seconds at most, or it can start feeling awkward.Now introduce yourself: “Nice to meet you, Sasha. I’m Philip.”Unless you have something desperately urgent to say, let Sasha talk, and as you listen to what she has to say, and keep associating what she says with her name. Think creatively about how you can clearly associate that name with her face. If you know someone else with the same name, try to associate that person with Sasha; or if you know some clever mnemonic or memory aid to help you remember her name, then use it, no matter how absurd it might seem.When you finally part ways, mention her name to her. e.g., “Great talking to you, Sasha.” This has the double benefit of making the other person feel good that you remembered their name, and also helps reinforce their name in your head.With some practice, you’ll notice that you will become much better at remembering people’s names, without appearing at all awkward.
