Imagine the name written across the person’s forehead in sharpie. I don’t know why, but this works for me.
Come on, level with us. After a few weeks at sea, you start calling them “Sweetheart” as well, right?
I do think positiive, and I also practice what I preach. Rather than use it as an excuse as to why I don’t remember it, I simply ask them their name again. I also try to use it frequently out loud, and I also associate it with something. i.e. I receive an allergy shot from ‘Cheryl’, which is also my SIL’s name. I’ve never forgotten her name.
Here are some tips. Of those listed I usually #2 and #6. I also keep notes of meetings where I list the names of the people in the meetings. This often lets me go back and check (if I can remember which meeting I met the person.)
Thanks everyone. I’ll try some of these and see what works for me.
I’m bad with names and freely admit it to people. Oddly enough, I can remember people’s Chinese surnames usually much better than English ones.
I use a PDA/phone. I take some pretty detailed descriptions in my address book. It’s with me all the time. See a customer out smoking a cigarette but can’t remember his name, I search in the PDA for the company or last name or some mnemonic, and it usually pops up with “Andrew” and I’m off.
“Dude” works well too. Especially if you’re like I am and the name eventually comes up during the conversation. “Hey Dan, it was great talking to you. See you soon” kinda thing.