How to Remember Names in Interpersonal Relations

Remembering names can help build new relationships.

An important part of developing relationships and establishing new friendships is being able to remember people's names.This conveys to others that you are genuinely interested in them and that they are important. For some this ability comes naturally, while for others it can be incredibly difficult. No matter what your situation is, implementing five techniques can greatly increase your ability to remember names.

Instructions

1. Pay close attention when meeting someone new and listen closely when you hear his name for the first time. It's easy to miss out on important information when your thoughts are elsewhere, so be completely present mentally when making an introduction.

2. Say the person's name out loud when making making your introduction. For example, you can confirm their name by saying, "It's nice to meet you Lisa." People enjoy hearing their own names, which will help you gain their favor while locking their names into your memory bank at the same time.

3. Associate a person's name with a celebrity with whom you are already familiar like Brad Pitt or Kim Kardashian. This is a simple technique that works like a charm for many people.

4. Say the person's name two or three times throughout the course of your conversation. This technique of repetition will help to ingrain his name into your mind.

5. Review the names of anyone you have met in the past three to four days to yourself. This activity usually will seal the names of new acquaintances into your memory.

Tips & Warnings

• Acknowledging the fact that you have difficulty retaining names will help you become more aware that this skill is something you need to work on. This in turn, will help aid you in the future when meeting new people.

References

• CNN: Tricks to Remembering Names