Name tag without a name helping people how to remember names

Leadership Tips 3 Feb 26 0 Comments

The Lazy Way to Remember People’s Names

By Mark Collard
Experiential Trainer, Author & Speaker

How to Look Good with Names

the Lazy Facilitator Episode 12

People tell me all the time, wow, Mark, you’re really good with names.

But here’s the truth. I don’t have any special talent for how to remember names.

I just have a couple of lazy strategies that make me look really good, especially in the context of working with people I don’t know (which, admittedly, is a lot of the time.)

First, use their names immediately. As soon as someone shares or makes a contribution, ask for their name and then reuse it straight away. For example, “Thank you, Sarah. What you just said connects to blah, blah, blah…” This benefits you and everyone else in the room.

Second, never be afraid to ask. Here’s the important reframe. When you ask someone to repeat their name (that you once knew,) it doesn’t mean that you’re stupid and forgot. It means you care enough to want to know it. People really appreciate that more than you think.

And third, listen to the group. This is the laziest strategy of all. Just pay attention. Names will come up naturally in conversations. And then later, when you use that person’s name, you suddenly look like a genius.

Final Advice: How to Remember Names

And finally, here’s the permission you need…

You don’t have to remember every name perfectly on the first try. You just need to care enough to ask and use them when you can.

That’s it. That’s how you look good with names without any special talent.

So do you want to make learning names even more fun? Check out playmeo’s database. We’ve got dozens of engaging name games to get your group connected fast. Just click the link below.

Try These Name Games

Visit Lazy Facilitator Video Library