You know how it makes you feel when someone goes out of their way to remember and use your name. Remembering a person's name emphasizes their importance to us and makes them feel special. Dale Carnegie said, "A person's name is to that person, the sweetest most important sound in any language."

Mastering name recall is a matter of motivation, technique and practice.

Name Recall Tips and Techniques:
Pay Attention -- Focus on the person and listen attentively to what he or she has to say. Be interested in him or her as a person. Resist the temptation to be self-conscious or think about what you're going to say.

Put a Name with a Face -- When you're introduced to a person, consciously look and listen. Notice if they have any distinguishing features. Observe their face while repeating their name in your mind.

Repetition -- During your initial conversation use their name two or three times. Silently repeat the name to yourself. If it's an unusual name, ask about its origin, or how it's spelled. See the written name in your mind. If you have been given a business card, look at the name on the card.

As soon as possible after meeting someone, write their name down. As you write the name, picture his or her face.

Mind Pictures - Paint vivid mental pictures for popular names: e.g. for Bill -- I see the bill on a baseball cap, for Sherry -- a small, elegant glass of sherry. Exaggerate the images, make them colorful, and add action to make them even more memorable.

Visualize someone else you know with the same name wrapping his or her arms around your ‘new friend.'

Picture their name written across their forehead.

Association -- Make a connection with the name and the person's business or hobby. See them hand in hand with someone famous, who has the same name.

Rhymes -- These makes remembering and learning easy. It's no coincidence that rhyme is frequently used in children's books. For example, when meeting a Mike I picture him riding a bike; a Jenny, holding up an oversized, shiny new penny.

Attitude -- Don't allow yourself to make excuses. If you often say that you're really bad at remembering names, it probably won't change. It's a limiting belief. Instead tell yourself, "I'm working at remembering names and I'm getting better at it." Practice and persistence will lead to improvement.

If you do forget a name, be honest. Just tell the person and ask again. Don't talk about (and reinforce) any difficulty you may have remembering names.

Make it your intention to remember and use people's names. Honoring people in this way -- making them feel special -- is key to effective networking and helps to build relationships of trust.