The fun thing about music is that the lyrics leave room for your own interpretation, especially those written by Florence Welch. One of Florence & the Machine’s most popular songs ‘Spectrum’ has had fans guessing about its meaning. Some say it’s about love, about a relationship, enlightenment, … and if Dale Carnegie would still be alive, we think he would have taken the very literal interpretation of it: Say my name, the most important, sweetest sound I can hear and you will bring out the best in me.

“We should be aware of the magic contained in a name and realize that this single item is wholly and completely owned by the person with whom we are dealing … and nobody else. The name sets the individual apart”. A transcript of Dale Carnegie’s book, being ever more relevant in the “me-age”.

So why don’t we put a little more effort into remembering, spelling and saying people’s names correctly? And yes, we often hear people say: I’m just not good at it. Truly believing that this can be the case, just remember that time when somebody made a mistake about your name and you’ll find the time to become better at this. To get you started, here are some tricks to make the process easier:

  • Speak up. One of the tips we got at school when studying for exams was to repeat and say our materials out loud. So why not apply this when trying to get better at remembering names? The more often you repeat someone’s name, the more likely you are to remember it the next time.
  • Ask about the legacy. Working and living in a world that’s becoming ever more global, there’s no better way to connect with somebody than asking what the meaning of their name is. For example, many Polish names are rooted in the names of Christian saints and their day of birth*. This again gives you an opening for a whole other conversation.
  • A to the Z. Knowing how to spell a name will help you remember it a lot better. Don’t hesitate to ask, nobody has ever been offended by asking about the spelling of a name. Both the spelling, learning how to pronounce it AND the conversation will help you remember it ?.
  • Put it in writing. When you meet a lot of new people, your memory can use a little help. Keep track of people’s names in your Onenote and write some down some extra details about the context of where you’ve met them and what you talked about. You’ll be sure to remember the name and have great opening for your next conversation.

Let us know what works best for you!