What Was Your Name Again?
How to Recall Names for Greater Business Success – By Memory Expert Jim Kwik
Do you know what the two most costly words are in business? “I FORGOT.”
Think of the negative consequences of thinking or saying, “I forgot the meeting, I forgot my speech, I forgot to bring it, I forgot how to do it, etc.” Forgetfulness at the wrong time can make the most intelligent person in business look foolish or the most talented person appear incompetent. Memory lapses can break rapport with a prospect, weaken an important business relationship, or even kill a sale. In no area is a good business memory more important than in remembering names and faces.
In business, have you ever forgotten someone’s name just moments after hearing it? Have you ever had to introduce someone whose name slipped your mind? When we forget a person’s name, what message are we sending them? Few things are as embarrassing as struggling for the name of someone you should remember. How do you show a potential client you will care for their business, if you don’t care enough to remember their name? Since people don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care, recalling names can be considered the heart (and start) of good business.
To remember more names and faces in business … remember M.O.M.
“M” is for Motivation. If I told you that there are ten people in the next room, one of whom has $10,000 cash for you or your favorite charity, IF you can correctly recall their name … how many names do you think you would remember? Many report recalling many more names without even using a memory technique. Remember everyone’s favorite radio station: WII-FM (What’s In It For Me). When meeting someone new, take a moment and ask yourself, “Why do I want to remember this person’s name?” If you can’t come up with one reason to remember the name, you probably won’t.
“O” is for Observation. Many people blame their forgetfulness on their brain, when it could be their ears. Often recalling names is not a matter of RETENTION, but more of a matter of ATTENTION. Just as you can’t remember the face of someone who you didn’t see, you can’t remember a name you didn’t hear in the first place. There’s a reason we were born with two ears and only one mouth. When meeting a person for the first time, take a moment to quiet your inner dialogue, focus and really listen.
“M” is for Mechanics. Mechanics are the techniques, tips, and strategies we teach in our presentations, products and corporate trainings for remembering names and faces. They are the step-by-step memory tools you have in your mental toolbox. Although the mechanics are important, the reason why they come last is because if you don’t have the motivation to want to remember a person’s name, or you don’t observe the name in the first place, all the best mechanics won’t help.
In today’s competitive marketplace, before we sell our product or service, we need to sell ourselves. Do you want to stand out from the competition and be more memorable in your business? One of the greatest first impression business skills ever developed is the ability to meet a person and remember his or her name. When you have the ability to enter a room, confidently meet twenty or more new prospects and leave saying good-bye to every one of them by name, they will all remember you!
Jim Kwik, co-founder of Kwik Learning, has taught speed-reading and memory enhancement for over a decade. His cutting edge techniques, entertaining presentation style, and impressive mental feats have made him a frequent and sought out speaker & trainer for businesses, organizations and universities nationwide. His clients include executives & employees from many of America’s top companies, including Smith Barney, Macy’s Online, MetLife, GE, Hewlett Packard, Fleet Bank, UBS, AT&T, U.S. Postal Service, New York Life, Marriott Hotel and Harvard University. To book Jim for an educational, entertaining and empowering keynote/corporate training, call Kwik Learning at 914-949-3172.
