16th April 2009
Remembering Names
A good skill when you go to a networking event or make any new contacts in your business or social life is to remember the person’s name. It builds instant rapport by showing the other person you have respect for them and have put in effort to acknowledge and remember the personal identity of that person – their name.
Not many things come more personal than some ones name. It’s unique to them; it’s their label, their brand, given to them usually by a loved one. Some schools of thought say that a person’s name will dictate what sort of personality they will have and the course of their life! This may or may not be true. But is certainly a very important part of any person’s identity.
So remembering names of the people you come in contact with, certainly is a key to building rapport with that person. However, for most of us it’s not that easy. Especially if you are coming in contact with many people; business owners, reps, clients, potential clients, people from social events, friends of friends, extended family. It’s estimated that by the time the average person is 18 years of age that they personally know 2000 people! So how many do we know when we are 30? 40? 60? And if we being business owners and reps, are probably above average with the numbers of people we meet.
Here are a few tips on how to remember people’s names.
Of course this comes down to memory. To take advantage of our memory we first have to know the way each of us learns best. Experiment a bit if you don’t know. Do you memorise things easier by sight, hearing, touching or visualising? Perhaps a combination? And of course repetition is the key for anyone.
For myself, I learn best by sight. Here is what I do to help myself remember someone’s name.
When I introduce myself to someone, I always ask their name if they haven’t given it to me, then I repeat the name back while I’m shaking their hand – “I’m John”, “John is it?” I’ll say. Then I’ll repeat that name to them as many times as I can. “So John, what do you do?”, “and how was your weekend John?”, “Do you have a business card John?” etc. Then I ask for a business card and see their name “John” written. If they don’t have a card, I will write it on the back of my hand with my finger. Seeing the name seems to be able to lock the name in my head.
Some other techniques are to turn names into pictures, or to relate the name to some unique thing about that person. Make their name into a story – perhaps a story including all the people there at that event. This is handy as then you will recall where you met them and who the other people were. A good conversation starter for when you meet them next.
Here are many more methods. Explore and learn which way is best for you. Think about them and how use can use those methods in reverse, so that you make it easier for other people to remember YOUR name! E.g, linking your name to something unique about you.
I once knew a guy who would do something stupid so everyone would remember who he was and his name. One time to my embarrassment, he dropped his cup of coffee all over at a venues wooden floor. Of course it made a loud crash, and everyone turned to see him. “Hi, I’m Clumsy Colin.” He’d say while everyone was watching, and He’d get a laugh out of people. Then he could go back to anyone of those people months later and say “Hi, I met you at a networking event in February. I dropped my coffee all over the floor.”
You might be surprised at how many people would remember “Clumsy Colin!” Bam! Instant rapport, instant remembrance of his name, instant conversation starter and instant association that Colin’s a bit of fun – even months afterwards. I’m not saying to make a fool of yourself at every networking event you go to (it’s certainly not the look I’m trying to go for!). But try to be creative about how you can help other people remember your name.
Remembering names is very important; don’t make excuses such as “I’ve got a bad memory”, that just lands you back at square one. It may take practise and it is a skill, so it can be learnt. Make it into a habit and really to try to remember people’s names! You’ll be blown away at how much it helps you.
Yusuke Inui
BizPartners Team
17th March 2009
85% of your success is about showing up!
How do we prepare for a networking situation? Particularly if we haven’t had much networking experience and if we’re a little shy, then going to a networking event – a room full of strangers, can sometimes be a bit daunting. Often, this is as far as we get, even with our best intentions of networking, we simply don’t go.
It’s said that fear is the biggest barrier to any persons success. Most fear is generated of the unknown. In the case of networking, unknown people – but isn’t this why we are wanting to network? To met people whom we don’t currently know?
So what are some of the things we can do to prepare so we feel comfortable and actually do go to networking events?
• Contact prior to the event the co-ordinator or group leader. Make contact with these people either over the phone or in person. Introduce who you are and a bit about yourself. These people usually have good networking skills and will make you feel comfortable in the event by personally introducing you to other members of the group. At least when you arrive you already know a friendly face. When you arrive perhaps over to help them setup, that way you’ll be seen as a proactive member of the group, the leader will be grateful for you help, and you won’t be standing in the corner of the room pretending to be busy texting or reading some flyer on the wall.
• Go with a friend. It’s always easier to go to any new event with someone that you know. Make sure your friend has a reason to go, they themselves are a business owner, or represent business. However, don’t fall into the trap of sticking together and not meeting anyone new. Use each other to introduce yourself to new people. Otherwise your networking experience would be largely a waste of time.
• Likewise, if you already belong to a networking event, invite people you know! It may just change their entire business, and all they needed was an invite from a friendly face to say yes to coming along.
• It is helpful that you know how to effectively and quickly communicate who you are and what your business does. The “elevator pitch” is the basic tool used in Networking. Explain who you are, what you do, and the benefits of someone using your business in 30secs-2mins. You’ll appear professional and knowledgeable, an expert in your industry. Nervous people tend to waffle.
• If at first you feel awkward about speaking to new people, just listen. Simply ask “Tell me a bit about yourself?” or “How does your company benefit your clients?”. Then just listen. You’ll be surprised how many people will respect and find that YOU’RE an amazingly interesting person, simply because you listened to them!
At the end of the day however, the first step is always the hardest. Pushing through our comfort zones, just that little bit and we all know after the first step, it’s a whole lots of fun. Just like jumping into a cold pool. We’ve got to come to that point we’re you will say YES and leap!
In this economic times, it’s the people who are just that little bit more proactive with their business’s that will succeed over the ones who don’t. The first step is to show up. Dont get caught up about the “what if’s”.
“You can be or do whatever you want just by showing up. If you want to be an author, show up to write your manuscript every day, show up to writing classes, show up to phone calls to editors. Doesn’t it make sense that someone who arrives at the door of opportunity has more success than someone just sitting at home?
So increase your chances by 80%. Show Up!” - Woody Allen
BizPartners Team
19th February 2009
Networking is an essential skill for business people.
Business growth is frequently developed through the relationships we have created with other people. Networking functions provide the opportunity to expand our contact list, particularly when we create and nurture quality relationships. True Networking is not about trying to sell your business to the group, nor is Networking about “spamming” business cards around the room and hoping for quick return. These attitudes don’t impress anyone. You’re time would be much better spent concentrating on a few people at a time to create those quality relationships. Return comes by building relationships of respect and trust, which may or may not take time. Like anything, what you put in is what you get out. Show that you as a person and your business are respectable, of high quality service and that you care about people you’re in business with. Networking is a skill and can be learnt. Like anything which can be learnt, practice makes perfect. So get out there and network; promote your business and your qualities as a person.
Networking when done right is a highly effective and cost effective way to build sales, gain support and grow business. BizPartners provides weekly networking groups throughout Auckland. We are expanding fast and soon will be nationwide. Our groups are fun, friendly and very effective.
"Success doesn't come to you…you go to it." Marva N. Collins - Educator
BizPartners Team