Remembering Names While Networking
I recently was at a business event in which a small group of us were talking about the difficulty of remembering people’s names while networking.
One woman explained that she never forgets a face, but that she is not good with names and then wonders how to respond when seeing someone again. Here are some tips to help you in this situation.
Nice to see you. I am a big networker – I go to many events and have met many people. For this reason, I have learned not to say “Nice to meet you.” due to the numerous times that was followed by the person politely telling me we have met before.
For this reason, I always say “Nice to see you” as a general response which leaves the door open for whether this is a first-time introduction or not.
Introduce yourself first. In the instances in which I know I have met someone but I don’t remember their name, I make the assumption this is true for them, as well.
As a way to get past what could be an awkward moment, I immediately offer to shake their hand and introduce myself first giving them my name.
This is followed by them accepting the handshake, giving me their name and sometimes explaining we have met before and that they know who I am. I follow up with that I didn’t want to assume that they would remember me.
Have a clear name tag. Instead of leaving the name tag in the hands of the event planner, I have my own plastic name tag made with my name clearly printing in big letters, my company name and my logo, making it easier for others to see and remember who I am.
When business cards are exchanged (and yes! business cards are still important) study their name and company. When I get to the car, I often make a note on it to help me remember our discussion and them.
Networking is essential to building your business. It provides the first step to a possible relationship and can build credibility for your company and expertise.
The more you are comfortable with it, the more you can Cultivate What Counts. Watch for my book on this topic to be relaunched soon!