Chủ Nhật, 15 tháng 9, 2013
Behind every brand and every decision is a person. Do your business well by remembering your contacts' names.
by Danella Yujuico Yaptinchay
Being in business involves meeting people and interacting with them. It is important that you establish ties and lay the foundation for long-term relationships with partners, customers, and suppliers.
So, how do you go about this?
Good vibes make great memories
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou
I think that the quote speaks truthfully about how we as humans function. I would add that people will also forget your name.
In my opinion, the trick to remembering contacts is to create a memory with them, whether it’s a feeling they evoke in you or some other kind of factual connection you can make. Your experience with someone will help you remember each other, and your names.
It’s easy to remember people who make us feel happy or special, or even uneasy or intimidated. This is because feelings stick.
Seek common ground
In an ideal world, you would be able to spend a few minutes with each person you meet, and have this more than once. You would have a brief exchange and find something significant to connect you together: a favorite sport, a good collaboration idea, a joke. When you part ways, you remember the whole experience.
In case there are people who don’t really make a lasting first impression on you, try to find something about them you can relate to, like shared interests.
But the truth is, there will be times when you will have to work a room like nobody’s business because there will just be too many people to meet. If that’s the case, do your best to get a business card. If they don’t have a business card, I sometimes write their information on the back of my own card.
Creating a memory is a two-way street that will allow you and your contacts to connect on more meaningful levels and benefit both parties.
Keep some mnemonic tricks up your sleeve
Here are some other tips that I use:
Respect and keep business cards. I sometimes write nicknames on the back of cards, or notes about who they are and what I remember about them. I also review the people I meet when I file their cards away in a holder.
Use name tags. Corny as it may seem, name tags are a great tool if you’re hosting the event. I honestly wouldn’t be so idealistic as to assume that everyone will remember each other’s names or bring business cards. This is just a practical option.
Write thank you notes. This is a great practice for remembering people, as well as being remembered. Write them a short e-mail, remind them of where and how you met, and of any incident that happened then. Mention that you’d love to meet them again for coffee (if applicable—don’t force yourself to meet people that you don’t ever want to see again!).
Employ tech. I’ve said it before: use the tools that technology provides. My current favorite is Evernote Hello, because I can take a photo of someone’s business card and write notes.
Make it a work requirement. The practice of remembering names is important; your contacts are crucial to work. Behind every brand or every decision is a person, and you need to make sure that you can communicate with them easily.
