Is there anything more awkward in life than forgetting someone’s name? Especially when you then have to introduce your new friend and draw a complete, mortifying blank…
It’s enough to make you dread chatting to strangers at this year’s party season events but, fear not if your memory has let you down in the past, because one expert has just shared his five golden rules for never forgetting a name.
Writing for the Daily Mail, top memory expert Harry Lorayne claims his techniques have helped him remember the names of up to 1,500 people new people in one go.
Below are Lorayne’s five golden rules for remembering names like a pro…
“If you apply them properly, I guarantee that you’ll improve your memory for names by about 20%,” he says.
1. Make sure you actually hear their name properly. “It’s not embarrassing to say, ‘Sorry, I didn’t get your name’,” he says.
2. Try to spell it back to them. “The great thing about doing this is that you’ll be corrected if you’re wrong,” he says, adding that the trick works even if the person has an easy-to-spell name, as they’ll “still feel flattered because you’re showing an interest”.
3. Make a remark about their name. “Any remark will do,” he explains. “Again, you’re showing an interest.”
4. Use their name in your conversation. “Don’t go overboard with this rule, or it will sound forced,” he warns. “But try to introduce the name seamlessly into your chat.”
5. Use the name again when you say goodbye. “Don’t just say, ‘I’ll see you later’; instead, say: ‘I’ll see you later, Julia'”
So – there you have it – forgetfulness happens to the best of us, but these top tips might help you avoid a social faux-pas this party season…
