"Nice to see you again... you." We've all been there. You met someone at a conference, had a great conversation, and now you're drawing a complete blank on their name. It doesn't have to be this way.
Why We Forget Names (But Remember Faces)
Names are abstract labels with no inherent meaning. "Sarah" doesn't tell you anything about Sarah. Faces, on the other hand, are rich with contextual information — expressions, features, emotional associations. Our brains evolved to prioritize faces for survival; names came much later.
The Networking Pro's Memory Toolkit
1. The R.A.V.E. Method
- Repeat — Say their name back immediately: "Great to meet you, Sarah"
- Associate — Connect to someone you know: "Sarah, like my cousin Sarah"
- Visualize — Picture their name written on their forehead
- End — Use their name when saying goodbye
2. The Business Card Hack
When you receive a business card, don't pocket it immediately. Write one memorable detail on the back: "Red tie, loves hiking, just got a puppy." This creates a retrieval hook.
3. The 24-Hour Follow-Up
Memory consolidation happens during sleep. Before bed on the day of an event, review the people you met. Better yet, send a quick LinkedIn request with a personalized note — forces you to recall their context.
💡 The Voice Note Trick
After leaving a conversation, record a quick voice note: "Sarah from Acme Corp, marketing director, loves rock climbing, has a 3-year-old." This audio journal becomes your networking superpower.
Never Forget a Connection Again
KiokuCircle lets you build memory profiles for everyone you meet. Voice capture means you can log details in seconds after a conversation.
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