Meeting Tip: Learning Names
Since I started telecommuting a few years ago, I stopped having to attend face-to-face meetings on a regular basis. As such, my finely honed meeting skills have fallen into disrepair. Before I completely lose them, I thought that I might pass along the most useful one that I had - How to Learn Names and Impress People during meetings.
Anyone who knows me knows that I'm horrible with names. I mean absolutely atrocious. Friends, neighbors, pets - I have to say "I know that you've told me three times before, but I'm afraid that I've forgotten your name" so many times I might as well get it printed on cards and hand them out. This may explain my fanatical need to climb the corporate ladder - some day I'll have a big office and can call everyone whatever I'd like: "Johnson, where are the March numbers?" "Peterson, sir." "Damn it Johnson, I didn't ask for an English lesson, where are the numbers?" "I'll get them right away, sir."
And so on and so forth.
Anyways, onto today's lesson. Today we're attending the meeting to discuss the possibility of having fewer meetings in the future. This is very important as all these meetings are chewing up precious resource time.
Step 1 - Reconnoiter 
Draw a quick map of the table/layout of the meeting. Place yourself on it, to give yourself a reference point.
Step 2: The Combatants
As people introduce themselves around the table, fill them in. If you feel last names are necessary add those too, but don't do it at the expense of writing down someone else's name. You can guess at the last names later. If you miss one, leave it blank and fill it in as soon as you can - if someone else refers to them, etc, etc.
Step 3: More Information is More Better
If everyone introduces themselves, try and jot down as much information as possible. If you think that you will run across them later, include information that will help you recognize them down the road.
Step 4: That's a Horsecrap Idea, Bob
Refer back to the map during the meeting when you are going to need to speak. This way you will be prepared with a person's name. Since you'll have near 100% information on names, you'll be a step ahead of everyone else there. "Those are horrible ideas, Frank, and I think I speak for Alice, Doug, and myself when I say that I'm amazed you can tie your shoes in the morning."
Step 5: Move Up the Corporate Ladder, Profit.
Using the aforementioned map can give you an advantage at meetings, especially when there's a large number of people present. You can seem like the smartest chap in the room when you can 'recall' everyone's name in a 20 person meeting. Use this power wisely.
Maps
I have done this for a couple of years now and find that it has changed my effectiveness in meetings and the effectiveness of the meetings themselves. Knowing who the people are is step one towards efficiency.
Thanks for the post.
There is an Asian equivalent
I've worked with dozens of SE Asian banks where they are literally taught how to do this, except with business cards.
Here's how they do it:
1. Exchange business cards before the meeting. Repeat the name of the person on the card, in front of them....formal greeting.
2. When you sit down at your place at the table, arrange the business cards so they point to the right person.
This makes for an interesting dynamic at the start of a meeting, as people are glancing at the card before they address you. Eventually you remember the name of each person at the table, and the initial awkwardness of peaking at the cards goes away.
Great idea
I have used this same method for a few years now with great success. However, I only used the basic maps and names idea in the margins and top of my page. I will start moving to the extended info version right away. Thanks for the great write-up.
This works really well!
I read about this on lifehacker and then used it at a meeting I was at two days later - it helped me learn 15 names by the end of the meeting!
Strengthen your onboard memory while you're at it!
I am a grad student in cognitive psychology studying memory, among other topics.
I'm a huge fan of offloading cognition onto the environment (e.g., writing stuff down so you don't have to remember it yourself), but at the same time, in this meeting situation, there's no reason not to strenthen your onboard memory at the same time.
Using someone's name (speaking it aloud when addressing or referring to him/her) is a great idea, but I'd suggest attempting to recall it yourself first, and then glancing at your paper to confirm, or if you can't remember. A counterintuitive characteristic of human memory is that every time you successfully recall a piece of information, your ability to do so again is improved (or you might say the memory is strengthened).
So quiz yourself on the names and beef up your memory while you're working with a net (your notes)!
works for phone calls too
Nancy White taught me how to do this on phone calls to if you're organizing the call. Give everyone a spot around a clock (1 o'clock, 2 o'clock etc) and then use that metaphor to keep track of who is where and who is "next to" who else.
I love the business card hack.
You could easily add to this with a mindmap-style note taking - get a big piece of paper, put the names in the middle, and then track who says what radially and outward from the center.
(say hi to Griff for me)
Map Meetings
Great advice on learning names in meetings. I did the same when taking minutes - it was the only way to know who was making a comment. Writing notes about the person as they introduce themselves is golden. Enjoyed your humorous examples.
Nancy White taught me how to
Nancy White taught me how to do this on phone calls to if you're organizing the call. Give everyone a spot around a clock (1 o'clock, 2 o'clock etc) and then use that metaphor to keep track of who is where and who is "next to" who else. I love the business card hack. You could easily add to this with a mindmap-style note taking - get a big piece of paper, put the names in the middle, andlingerie then track who says what radially and outward from the center. (say hi to Griff for me
Start handing out nametags
I can't remember names to save my life, but I do have a photographic memory. I use it to my advantage and will write down names before I get to a meeting. Then I will be prepared. When I can't do that. I just jokingly let them know, right away, "I'm horrible with names. I think we should all wear name tags." When I hold large meetings, I smoothly make sure everyone gets the name tag, and they never question a thing.
BTW - great writing, serious yet humorous. The world needs more people like us.