When you first hear or read something, it is held in your conscious mind as an electrical impulse. If you focus on that thought for at least 5 seconds, a chemical reaction takes place and that thought is permanently imprinted into your subconscious mind. The more recently and frequently you recall that thought, the more likely you will be able to remember and recall it at will.

Conversely, the longer you go without thinking about it, the more difficult it will be for you to recall. Take a typical business networking situation where you are meeting a number of new people at the same time. For example: "Keith, this is Bill Smith, Yolanda Wilson, Eric Lachlan and Mary Wallace." By the time you get to the last person, you probably have no idea what the first person's name is because you haven't focused for 5 seconds.

What I have learned to do is slow down the introductions. While I am shaking Bill's hand I will repeat his name to him: "Bill Smith? Where are you from Bill?" And while he is answering I am repeating his name over and over in my mind. By the time I go on to Yolanda, I really know Bill's name, and so on. I'll do the same with Yolanda, but before I go on to Eric, I'll say in my mind, "That was Bill Smith and this is Yolanda Wilson." OK, then I'm ready to move on.

Recall is critical. Once the introductions are complete and we move into a conversation, every time someone speaks I am reminding myself what their name is. I'm listening to what they are saying and in my mind also saying "this is Mary Wallace."

It really isn't difficult to remember people's names, but it does take some effort. And it lets people know you respect them enough to remember their name. Try it, and let me know how you get on.

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© 2007 Keith Ayers. All rights reserved.

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