“No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” The words of John Donne are just as relevant today as when he wrote them almost 400 years ago. In our modern world, social media has diluted an individual’s view of personal connections. Research has shown the danger of that view. So, why is remembering names so important?
Numerous studies highlight that feeling socially connected gives a significant boost to our emotional, physical, and mental health [1]. It’s even been demonstrated to be a greater determining factor in our overall health than high blood pressure, smoking, and obesity [2]. Understanding the importance of personal social connections is one thing, enhancing those connections is a completely different challenge.
Remembering someone’s name is possibly the easiest and most effective ways to create greater more meaningful connections. In fact, it’s often said to be the one social skill that can change your life. Are you wondering how and why? Keep reading to find out more.
People really appreciate being remembered.
Think of how much it means to you when someone remembers your name, especially when you haven’t seen them in months or even years. You feel great, right? By simply remembering your name, they subtly show they care and indicate your previous meeting had meaning and significance to them. Simply put, you made an impression on them.
Now imagine being able to convey those feelings to another person. All of that happens when use a person’s name. They will be impressed and be inclined to make a deeper connection with you. Chances are high that the next time you see them, they will remember your name too.
People like hearing their name.
When you use someone’s name in a conversation, it tends to put them at ease. This makes them more comfortable since it demonstrates you care about them. This makes it easier to start and continue conversations.
It makes your entire interaction more comfortable.
Using someone’s name shows a greater connection and indicates importance. When people feel valued, they tend to feel more comfortable speaking and working with you. By saying their name, you show that they are more than just another face in the crowd. They are more likely to respond positively and feel compelled to facilitate a connection with you.
It’s obvious that remembering names is crucial for greater social interactions. The big question is how do you remember someone’s name especially if your interaction was brief? The following tips can help you become a master of remembering names.
Tips for Remembering Names
- Repeat it. From your very first meeting, be sure to throw their name into the conversation several times. Repeating their name during that initial interaction will make it easier to recall it later. Plus, this is the time to make sure you are pronouncing it correctly.
- Focus on the person. If you’re busy thinking about daily tasks or surveying the room in the hopes of finding someone else to talk to, you’ll never be able to commit someone’s name to memory. Focus on the person and stay present in the conversation.
- Look for something that makes them memorable. Look for a facial feature that makes them distinguishable from everyone else. It could be their piercing blue eyes, full lips, or dimpled chin. Once you’ve found it, connect their name to it. For example, Jenn with the big blue eyes. You’ll be shocked by how easy it is to recall their name the next time you meet.
Social connections are such an important part of your overall well-being. Take the time to learn names and see how it correlates to greater social connections for you. Ready to get started on improving your social skills? Contact us today!
[1] https://news.illinoisstate.edu/2018/09/social-connections-important-to-well-being/
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5598785/