Remembering Names

iiz2cool

I deal with over 400 people where I work, and I have trouble remembering names. Everyone knows mine though. I can remember their IP addresses more easily than I can remember their names. I walk through the halls and people come up and say "Hi Walter" and I wonder "Who the hell are you???" Their faces are familiar, but I have trouble placing names to the faces. I've been there for almost 3 years now, and it's getting embarassing. Someone can tell me their name and I forget it within 5 minutes! It must be because I spent 20 years as a dub, and met too many householders, and people all began to look and sound the same. (having been a dub is a convenient place to put the blame)

I remember some names by associating personality traits with the person's name. For example:

Hutton has a love of hard core porn, so I remember him as 'Hard Core Hut'. Then there's 'Prissy Patti', 'Homely Hans', and 'Dippy Dale'.

But I can't do that for over 400 people. Does anyone else have trouble remembering names? Do you have any techniques to help you to remember names?

Walter
Ontario District Overbeer

Uzzah

Walter:

I have the same problem. I have an uncanny memory for faces but names elude me.

The one thing I have found that helps me is to make sure I use their name at least twice in conversation when I first meet them. It makes a greater impression in my weak memory to hear me say the name as I look at the person.

To add to the challenge, as part of my work I meet 50-70 people per week, most of whom are from East Asian and African countries. Their names usually being about 7 syllables long. One from today "Jeganathapillai Olegasegaram". I can see their appreciation tho when I at least try to use their proper names.

I look forward to hearing other ideas.

Uzzah

Kenneson

Ditto the problem. What's even more embarassing is when you forget the name of someone you're supposed to know very well. It's like you just draw a blank. This happened to me this morning. Although I didn't have contact with this couple for several months, I remembered the woman's name right off, but I had to stall awhile before the man's name came back to me. I don't know what causes this, but I sure wish it wouldn't happen.

Vita Nuova

Yeah, this problem plagues me too. I think I may be losing my mind. Someone could tell me their name 3 times in a conversation, and even when I ask them for their name again, two seconds later in the conversation I've lost it again. By this time, I couldn't possibly ask them for their name again, so I just have to rely on the coincidence of them mentioning their name once more, looking for places where their name might be written, or creating ingenious ways of extracting their name from them without being obvious. The tricky part about those people I see regularly afterwards is acknowledging them in a manner that seems natural, and not as if I am actually trying to disguise the fact that I don't know their name, which I really don't know.

Nosferatu

Ah hell, I forget names all the time. Seems like everyone in this city knows who I am, and I don't remember their name most of the time, and sometimes I don't even know their face. I figure their name will come up in conversation at one point or another, and it usually does. I'm known all over the city for singing "My Boy Lollipop" in a chipmunk voice, but there must have been hundreds of people who have heard me do it.

xjw_b12

Good question........umh Winston........Warren......Izzy.......DAMNNNNN

Yeah. Same problem here. I always admired the CO's who could remember names, after only visiting the cong.s once every 6 months. (rememeber when it was once every 3 months?)

Yeah I have the same problem. I think it's for a couple of reasons.

1. I absorb way more from print, than audible. You could speak your life story to me, but I would absorb way more by taking the 2 - 3 hours to read your autobiography.

2. Only people who I am interested in, do I remember their names, and that is most likely because I know of them before I meet them. But if I met someone personnally, who had a name the same as a poster here ( alias or proper) I would remember them, due to the word association game.

Other than that, the only hope for me, is to ask for their business card.

Insomniac

I have the same problem. I tend to call everyone punkin, rock-star, gorgeous, whatever. The sillier the better-they all think it's my special nickname just for them! I hope they never catch on, that could be embarrasing.

Thirdson

I am terrible with names and can forget someone's name seconds after meeting them. I try to make a habit of repeating their name when introduced to someone new, it helps. Fortunately, at work, we all wear ID badges (secure ID is our business) and a casual glance at a badge helps. I also print meeting invitations so I have everyone's name in front of me. I'm getting better but it takes effort.

Thirdson

gumby

Do you have any techniques to help you to remember names?

Yes. Go to the hall next time the CO is visiting and ask him how in the hell they all do it. I think the society may have had an "off the record" program that taught them memory of names.Most of them I recall were pretty good at it.

OH! The reason people remember you is cuz you look like Christopher Walkin(didn't spell 'walkin' correct I don't think) ..........he's the actor who always plays a crazy bastard!

Gumby

iiz2cool

Go to the hall next time the CO is visiting

I'm sure the CO would LOVE to see me!!!

Crazy bastard??? Yeah, that could be me!

Walter

Remembering Names

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