The most interesting principle I read in Carnegie’s How To Win Friends & Influence People, was his point about remembering names. As he poetically pointed out, “A name is to that person the sweetest sound in any language.” Most people have to repeat their name multiple times until someone remembers. The curious thing about this principle is that it seems so obvious, but it’s still neglected.
It’s particularly interesting seeing the similarities between Carnegie’s advice and the advice of a more modern Charlie. Charlie has pointed out on his YouTube channel, Charisma on Command, that people really appreciate it when you address them by name. Charlie advises people to use that fact to their advantage. Carnegie’s advice is identical, though he phrases it differently. The fact that people are making the same point one hundred years later is a testament to how timeless Carnegie’s advice really is.
Of course, knowing a valuable principle is useless unless it’s implemented. So, how do I plan on putting this into practice? There are a couple tactics out there. Some people like to repeat the name in their head until reciting it is second nature. Others prefer to write it down and memorize it by spelling it over and over again. There is a third method though; some people prefer to associate that name with an unforgettable memory or object. The idea behind this tactic is that you are soldering a vague memory to an immovable one. It’s a process of layering memory upon memory. This is not a complete list by any means, but it should serve as a foundation. It is doubtful that there is one tactic that is indisputably better than all the others. I’ve included three tactics for that very reason.
Likely, everyone will develop their own personal methods. That is fine. The important part is that we move towards a world where everyone is more conscious of the names of the people they interact with daily–the grocery store sacker, the mechanic, the Amazon truck driver, etc.–It’s less important how we get there. Just remember, “A name is to that person the sweetest sound in any language.”
Asher Sisneros 