[mhale]

I'm pretty bad at remembering names, but my wife and I have worked out a system. If we're in a social setting together and I start to introduce her "have you met my wife..." she will jump in and introduce herself directly to the other person "hi, I'm Colleen...", which prompts the other person to directly introduce themselves to her (and thus taking me off the hook). As a result, if someone is introducing me to someone else, I tend to do the same thing -- hijack the introduction and introduce myself directly -- just in the case the person making the introduction needs an assist. Of course, if they've already greeted the other person by name, then no need.

[mygo]

In my college days we were brutally honest when we had forgotten someone’s name. It was such a large school that if you simply stepped outside every day you met someone new all the time, one way or another. Many people you would only meet once and then never see them again. So it was common to hear some version of “It’s good to see you again! Sorry I haven’t gotten your name down yet, I remember you but I’ve got to meet someone like 5 times before their name sticks” and it was no big deal because the other person would say the same thing back.

I like to think that in the real world being honest about forgetting someone’s name doesn’t hurt, but then again remembering someone’s name is way more impressive.

[diegoperini]

One method I personally adopted in my professional life is delaying the usage of pronouns until the day I personally believe I memorized the names properly. In a setting where I can say "She can do that.", I instead say "Jenna can do that." until I'm satisfied with my memory.

[mygo]

haha this was also one of my tactics. Even when I’d speak to someone one on one I’d slip their name into the conversation.

I think most people like hearing their name being said so even when I slipped their name into things that people normally say without using names it didn’t come off as too creepy, at least I don’t think.

[sgc]

People know you are working on remembering their name, so it's all good.

[code_duck]

This is a much better tactic than the worst thing you can do, which is pretend you know and then use a wrong name. I lost a decent retail account by calling an owners friend ‘Ashley’ when she was really ‘Melissa’ when I met them at a party 3 months after initially meeting them at a trade show.

[mhale]

Yeah, I struggle with this. Often when I see someone my brain doesn't present single name match, more often I have a list of potential matches in my head. e.g. "Scott or Rob" -- so I'm forced to just go with one, or avoid saying any name at all. I've gone for it and botched a name before and it was truly embarrassing. Often given a few seconds I can recall with certainty. It's the one-the-spot instant name recall that is difficult for me.

[asknthrow]

Harsh. I've seen this happen many times and on every occasion it's been taken light-heartedly/no offence/whatever. I think you were incredibly unlucky.

[code_duck]

Yes, these individuals turn out to be rather snobby, you could say. Not people I’d endorse as friends or business partners on a personal level, but, it’s business and it’s worth knowing how to not lose customers, even if not means coddling them.

[ellisv]

I almost always hijack to introduce myself. People often mis-hear my name so introducing myself gives me an opportunity to state it multiple times and give them a mnemonic device to help them remember.

[aijoe]

You are a nice person.

[ddingus]

Nice. I second the other comment. You are a good quality human.