Remembering names can be an important initial step in developing good human relations. It is a subtle compliment that shows that you care about this new person in your life. This can have positive affects in nearly every aspect of life. This skill can come in especially handy in fellowshiping efforts for investigators and new members. How great it would be to meet an investigator that the missionaries bring to church one week, and to remember their names the next week - or during the week if you run into them at the grocery store or something.

Unfortunately, many people feel that they are terrible with names. It is common to hear someone say this. But anyone with a desire to remember names can greatly improve their abilities in this area by using a few simple techniques.

I was able to go through the Dale Carnegie course about a year ago, and am now serving as a graduate assistant in the same course. This allows me to get a necessary follow up in the principles I learned, and to maybe be of help to somebody else. Remembering names is a significant topic of the first session of this course. I would like to pass on a summary of some of the techniques taught in this course, and hope you find them useful.

So, here goes. The main categories are impression, repetition, and association.

Impression

The Name itself. Listen closely, and make sure you hear the name clearly and completely. So often we may miss the name because it is said so fast. Ask for the name again if you do not get it at first. Ask for them to spell it if necessary. Write it down if possible. This will show them how important their name is to you, and help you remember it.

The Person. What about the person impresses you? Their face? Their size? Their voice? Find something unique about the person. Think about this thing as you remember the name and link this image with the name.

Desire to Remember. Remembering names requires some effort and concentration. Take some responsibility for remembering this name.

Repetition

Use the name immediately. This is important and very easy to do. When you first meet the person and find out their name, work the name into the conversation. ‘What do you do, Tom?’, ‘Where do you live, Mary?’, ‘Do you have an children Mr. Jones?’ are ways of doing this.

Use it often. Use the name in conversations with them, and about them. The more you use the name the better.

Repeat and review it silently. As you walk away think, ‘Paul Hamilton, Paul Hamilton, Paul Hamilton’ several times.

Review the name or names later in the day to refresh your memory.

Association

Find something to associate with the name. Some areas for association might be:

Business. Is their something about their job that can be associated with the name? Like Mr. Carpenter is in the construction business, or Bill is in purchasing.

Rhyme. Is there a rhyme to their name that will help? (You may not want to share some of these associations - but whatever helps).

Appearance. Does something about their appearance make an association with their name? Like Mrs. Small is very short.

Meaning. You may know the meaning of a name and use this to associate it with the person.

Mental picture. Create a mental picture that can help you remember the name. If you wanted to remember my name you might picture me in a Viking helmet and kneeling on a small boy. Eric is kind of a Viking name, and I have four boys. Eric Nielson. Get it?

Similar name. Maybe you know someone else with a similar name that reminds you of this person.

Well, that is about it. Try a couple of these that make sense to you the next time you meet someone, and see if you are not more successful in remembering their name.