Seasoned Greetings

When I grew up, times were simpler. There were only like seven men’s names. Today it’s a lot more complicated trying to remember names. Have you ever seen someone approaching you in a store who you kind of know and as they draw closer they greet you by name but then you can’t think of his or her name? That’s tough. You lose confidence in your ability to think, and it does not help you socially. Sometimes I can remember his or her name in the nick of time (especially if his name is Nick) but it doesn’t always happen. When you find yourself not remembering, you need to take action. First, continue to try to think of his or her name while he or she talks. Of course, you won’t be listening to anything he or she says at that point. When you do remember the name, try to use it in the conversation, but do not save it until the end. An ending of, “See you at the club, Lance” is not going to cut it, because that person will realize you didn’t know their name at the beginning of the conversation and you’ll leave them with that parting thought. Your best bet under this scenario is to try to wedge it in the middle somewhere. Studies show that there is still an 80% chance that she or he knows that you did not know his or her name, because people just don’t talk to people by name like that in the middle of a conversation.

The other option (and the one I like) is, as they draw closer to you, to do the fake telephone call answer. Taking this “call” while giving a cute wave will allow you the extra time to come up with their name (perhaps using a “lifeline” call!), thereby eliminating the awkward, no-name greeting. Then, you can catch them in the dairy aisle and greet them by name.