How Do You Remember People?

October 17, 2005 ·

This morning I was reading an article on CNN.com called “Tricks to remembering names.” There are some good tips there. I use a few already. For instance, I keep an up-to-date contact book like it is part of my religion. I like to have all contact information very organized and easy to draw from. I don’t like to lose friends on account of disorganization. (#7) Also, I will take a person’s name and try to associate it with a feature on their face or a famous person. (#5)

But there is another way that I remember people. Often times I will be able to remember a person by referencing what kind of cell phone or computer they have. “Oh, so-and-so,he’s the guy with the 12″ iBook.” I suppose this is because technology and gadgets are my area of interest and that is something that I am familiar with enough to remember easy.

Perhaps we all have something that registers easy when we meet someone.

For instance, my wife styles hair for a living. She recalls people by how long their hair is, how it is colored, or the style it was in. (Things that I would never notice…never…ever.) She remembers by their hair because that is her line of work and something that interests her.

My friend Richard studies and enjoys business and he seems to remember people by how they network to someone else. (I often call him “Rolodex Rich” because he’ll often help me place people that I don’t know, but know me. “Richard, do I know this person?” “Yes, he is a friend of Mike, who we met at that party at Michelle’s.”) He remembers by who they associate with because business networking is his area of interest.

How do you remember people?

(PS, the music gem this week comes from Jonathon Coulton and it is a nice acoustic remix of a great rap song. Take a listen here.)

Comments

6 Responses to “How Do You Remember People?”

Jamie Stucki on October 17th, 2005 12:55 pm

I have to admit, I don’t have the best memory when it comes to remembering people or things- which is a good thing because I just listend to that gem and I want to forget that as soon as possible. Let’s have Mom take a listen and realize the words she’s been singing all these years.
Shaun on October 17th, 2005 2:37 pm

Remembering names is a funny thing. I think their point number 1 is the best point. I find that if I want to remember a name I will remember it more than if I don’t care. For me the repetition of use is the biggest help but then I take that a step further and very lightly ask em if they’ve ever been called a funny nickname, pick on we’ve all heard ‘em. That helps to cement it and you get to see a part of their sense of humor too. I like ‘Rolodex’s’ idea of place association but that will sometimes haunt you if you see them out of that context, as in your example. Over all good article though.
Richard Miller on October 17th, 2005 4:16 pm

I do tend to remember names once I learn them, but it does take me a while to learn them. I admit I often do what the article says when I forget names — I act friendly and show that I obviously remember them, then get their names from a friend.
Richard Miller on October 17th, 2005 4:17 pm

Funny song, by the way.
Brandon on October 17th, 2005 7:31 pm

hmm im not good at remebering people, the majority of the time i don’t ven get there name, so its pretty much hey u lol. good song
Alan on October 18th, 2005 4:23 pm

I picture the name spelled out in my mind, and associate the face of the person with the image of the name. And since a lot of names are common, I decide right away if the person looks like a Rob or a Katie or whatever, based on people I already know by the same name. Then I’ll remember that the girl I met yesterday was named Amanda, despite looking nothing like my good friend named Amanda. So I guess I compare their face to other familiar faces by the same name.