If you’re like me, you meet a handful of new people every week. On an average week I’ll run into 20-30 new people at networking events. One of my biggest struggles when networking is remembering someone’s name when running into them the following week. I am horrible with names, absolutely horrible. Almost to the point to where it’s embarrassing because the person’s name whom I forgot looks at me with that blank look as if they were thinking “Do you really even care who I am?” It’s time to work on that problem. I’ve researched the subject and have found several helpful tips to help us remember names.

COMMIT

Begin by making a commitment, a conscious decision, to remember people’s names. Forgetting names is actually the cause of a lack of commitment rather than a horrible memory. Tell yourself that you have what it takes to remember names and you’re willing to commit yourself to do so.

REPETITION

Repetition, Repetition, Repetition is one of the easiest ways to help you remember someone’s name. Use their name several times when you first meet them. “Very nice to meet you Bob. What is it that you do Bob? Bob, it was great getting to know you, I’m sure we’ll run into each other real soon, Bob.” It may sound a little funny saying Bob’s name a lot, but it’ll help save you the embarrassment the next time you meet Bob and forget his name. Of course, you can always do it lighthearted and say “Nice to meet you Bob. I’ve got to say your name a few times Bob, I’m really working hard on remembering names, and one of the ways to help remember is to say your name, Bob, several times when I first meet you. I apologize Bob, if it gets a little redundant. Ok, Bob, that should do the trick. What is it that you do?” I would recommend trying to casually incorporate Bob’s name into the conversation, rather than tell Bob what you’re doing.

NAME PICTURES

By converting names into pictures, you’re more likely to recall the visual image in your memory, which will trigger the person’s name. After all, images are the language of our memory. For instance when you meet a Barbara think of a barbed wire fence. Attaching a picture to a name is simple due to the fact that so many people share the same name; so you’ll need fewer images thank you think.

BUSINESS CARD NOTES

Take a few visual characteristics on the back of the person’s business card. Perhaps they were seven feet tall, or they wore designer reading glasses, shaved head, curly blonde hair, or maybe they had an accent. Use anything that you think will help you remember the person’s name.

THE INTRODUCTION

To escape the embarrassment of asking for someone’s name, you can always pray someone you know enters into the conversation. Introduce, with confidence, the person you know, and let the mystery person introduce himself to your friend. Don’t count on this as an automatic bailout or an easy backup plan, barely ever does this happen unless it’s planned.

If you’re not sure you’ve met someone before (or even if you’re sure you have and have forgotten their name) approach them with confidence, put out your hand, smile and re-introduce yourself. RoAne, the author of How to Work A Room and How To Create Your Own Luck, calls this the “You Never Know” Approach. She claims ninety percent of people will respond in kind and no one is stuck playing the memory game. For the ten percent who don’t ask, tell the truth: “It's been one of those days... I can't even remember my name.""

Does anyone have any secret tricks or tips they use when networking to remember someone’s name?