How to Easily Remember Names and Faces Part 1

You have probably heard a similar statement that says, “The most beautiful word an individual can ever hear is his or her own name.”
However, this poses a great threat to people who have trouble remembering names, especially those who are frequently attending important business meetings and gatherings.

If someone approaches you and called you by your first name, wouldn’t it be embarrassing if you don’t reciprocate by saying his or her name back? And of course, it’s more humiliating to directly ask his or her name when that person expects you to know it.
The same thing stands true for remembering faces. Wouldn’t it bother you
to have met successful entrepreneurs in a gathering, only to forget how they look like when you get home?
More often than not, the difficulty in remembering names and faces is caused by the fact that names and faces in themselves are uninteresting, and therefore do not pull in or hold attention as do other objects presented to the mind.

Here are effective strategies to help you remember names and faces easily:

1. Instead of merely listening to the faint sound of a name, focus on hearing it clearly and concentrate on firmly implanting it on your memory.

2. Repeatedly say the name many times over in your mind. If possible, use the name as often as possible. You can tell your friend now, and then your sister later: “I’ve just met Jonathan Nowitzki.” You can also make a comment about his name: “I have a former classmate named Mark Nowitzki who is very good in electronics. Do you know him?”

3. After hearing the name, write it down several times. By doing this, you are acquiring the benefit of a double sense impression, adding eye impression to ear impression.

4. When you hear the name of a person being spoken, look purposefully at the person bearing it. By doing this, you are connecting the name and the face together in your mind at the same time. The next time you forget the name, just recall the face and you might have a good chance of remembering it.

5. Visualize the name as an object in your mind. See the name’s letters in your mind's eye, as an image or picture. Exaggerate it as much as you can. You can imagine the name “Nowitzki” in your mind as a big hairy object with 3 eyes and with spikes all over it. For a clearer image, visualize Mr. Nowitzki himself lifting the giant word “Nowitzi” over his head, like a weightlifter lifting a barbell. The more exaggerated or humorous, the better chances it will get stuck in your mind.

How to Remember Names and Faces Part 2