Benefiting at work from Brain Based Insights

It’s even more critical to use people’s names when we see the intrinsic value in speaking a person’s name. But names can become difficult to navigate on a busy day – especially when we first meet people – or if we are encountering many people for brief periods only.

Luckily we have several intelligences to draw from – and each of these could offer you a helpful way to use and remember more names.

1. Linguistic intelligence helps you to connect the name with a word you already know, and that hook help you to remember.

2. Spatial intelligence guides you to link an image to the person’s face so that you remember the name when you see the face.

3. Interpersonal intelligence has you repeating the name after the person tells you so that you firmly etch it into your memory.

4. Intrapersonal intelligence offers you ability to think about the name or it’s meaning - and mull it around in your head for a minute until it sticks.

5. Musical intelligence enables you to hum the name to yourself or link it to a favorite tune. 

Here are 5 brain facts to help you remember a name:

1. If you are curious about a name and create a desire to use names more – you will create new neuron pathways to remember that name faster.
2. Each time you speak a person’s name you grow new dendrite connectors to remember that name next time.
3. Engage the person for a few minutes during which time you say the name a few times and your interpersonal intelligence will aid your memory of the name.
4. Enjoy the benefit it gives to another person – when they hear their own name used with respect, and you will increase serotonin, a hormone that helps memory.
5. Ask a question … such as “Nice name – what does it mean? and the answer will add details that can spike your memory for the name.

By the way - what did you say your name was again?