Remember names at meetings by making a map

Meeting Tip: Learning Names | Gurno.com

As someone who suffers from frequent encoding errors and buffer overflows, I love Adam’s idea to start a meeting by mapping the name and location of each attendant, along with their title, etc. Adam writes:

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.

In the times I’ve used similar tricks, like Adam, I also go a step further by adding some “file card” sort of fact that will help jog my memory about who was who months later. E.G.“Jim - weird frat ring; Kathy - said she likes applesauce; Bob - Tall with a toupee.”

I think making everyone into a character of some kind also tends to help me digest their thoughts and ideas more completely.

Good post, Adam.