Chapter 31
Forgetting Names
When Your Name Has Been Forgotten
Is it possible? Could someone really have the nerve to forget your name? Let me ask you this: If you've forgotten names, isn't it safe to assume that others may forget your name?
Do not take offense when someone forgets your name. Memory recall isn't always the sharpest and people have a lot on their minds. It's arrogant to think that remembering your name is a top priority on a contact's to-do list, particularly when you've only met a few times.
It takes six to eight times of meeting someone casually before a person “gets” who you are and vice versa. Have you ever been sitting in a committee meeting and after several months of being on the same committee with someone, you look across the table, have that moment of clarity, and say to yourself, “Oh yeah, hey, I know that person”?
Accept that others have distractions, problems, and priorities in their lives. Do whatever you can to make it easy for people to know who you are, what you do, and what you have to offer. The easier you make it for someone to remember your name, the more likely he or she is to remember it.
When saying hello to a casual contact, offer your first and last name again. This will eliminate the name-game pressure. Your effort to make others comfortable will encourage them to offer their name as well. A person who says “Of course I know your name” could secretly be thrilled that you gave a kind reminder.
If you find yourself in a group situation and ...
