What To Do When You Can't Remember Names and Faces

We meet so many different people in the course of our work and our busy lives these days that it probably isn't surprising that it can be a struggle to remember them all.

Yet a sharp memory is a powerful tool in the workplace, and in our interactions with others we will often be judged by how well we remember details like the names and faces of people we meet. And leaders and mangers need to be able to remember people they meet.

Imagine your humiliation if the client who placed that huge order last month walks over to greet you and you can't remember their name. (Or maybe you don't have to imagine it!) Even worse than embarrassment - you could lose a client!

Have you ever been introduced to someone and then two minutes later realized that you have no idea what their name is? Do you spend half your time at functions or conferences hiding from people because you know you should know them but you have forgotten what their name is? Do you always duck for cover when someone new is to be introduced around a room full of people you know well, because you always confuse their names?

Imagine how different your life could be if you were blessed with a good memory for names and faces - or if you had trained your memory to remember names and faces better.

You could confidently walk up to people you had only met fleetingly before and greet them personally.

You could make new employees feel more welcome by greeting them and introducing them to others.

You would be confident in recognizing all you clients - new and old - even when you ran into them out of context such as at a school sporting event or at the supermarket.

What a difference it would make to your work - and your life - if only you could remember names and faces better.

Well the good news is you can improve your memory - and it isn't all that hard.

There are many simple yet powerful tips, tools and techniques that you can use to improve your memory, including some that you can start applying the moment you know them.

Here are a couple of my favorite tips, from a really practical and helpful eBook called 'Powerful Ways to Sharpen Your Memory - A Guide for Leaders and Managers'.

First the way you listen can make all the difference. Instead of merely listening to the faint sound of a name, focus on hearing it clearly and concentrate on firmly implanting it on your memory. It may even help to ask the person to repeat the name for you so you can hear it again.

And second, consciously reminisce about the atmosphere or environment where you met someone you are trying to recall. Recalling what you felt or what you did, when you met a person, can trigger memories of how they were introduced to you, how they looked and other aspects regarding the person. This can be a powerful way of remembering their name and face through the association with the context in which you met.

The important thing to remember is that different techniques work best for different people. If these two don't help you, don't worry, there are many other powerful ways to remember names and faces that you should investigate to find what works best for you.