Today I’ve continued to respond to everyone who wished me a happy birthday and posted on my Facebook wall. It’s touching to see so many people taking the time to write a line and it’s made me think that I should be more organised with keeping track of people who cross my path.
I’m at times guilt for listening but not really paying attention. It can be in situations of introducing myself where, for some reason, I’m more focused on the introduction than really making sure that the person I’m being introduced to is sticking in my mind. As a result it happens that I’ve forgotten their name pretty much as soon as they’ve said it.
D is brilliant with names. I’m not. I’m the kind of person who goes “Do you remember that movie…erhm… what’s it called again?… Where that guy…. what’s his name again?…”. I hate it. I remember details but for some reason names are finding it harder to stick.
During lunch the other day I was reminded of a great talk at Gather | WACLE two years ago where a woman (yes, of course I’ve forgotten her name) was talking about networking and introductions, specifically about what she did to remember people and their names. She kept close record and wrote down little details of where she’d met them etc. and I’m trying out her approach.
Related to what I wrote about the other day on my birthday, there’s nothing as flattering as when someone unexpectedly remembers your name and a little detail about who you are or where you met. Especially if it’s someone that you look up to. Not that I’m wanting to flatter people as such but I do love those little things that make people smile and I do want to remember where I’ve met people and what we’ve talked about. With byflock and on my own freelancing I’m meeting so many people in so many different situations and it’s easy, a few months down the line, to forget where and when you actually met.
Remembering people and being remembered is really important and as I’ve gone through and responded to everyone who wished me happy birthday on Facebook, I’ve realised how much I really enjoy exchanging a few lines with old friends, colleagues and class mates but also other people I meet briefly, or just speak to online. You never know when an opportunity comes for a catch up, or where paths unexpectedly cross, but I do know that when that happens, I want to remember your name, who you are and how I know you.
Tomorrow – Day 141 | Week 20 summary
Image source: www.flickr.com/photos/hichako/2523606123
