If you’re like most people, you probably want to be remembered. We all want people to think of us as the cool one, or the funny one, or the nice one. Who doesn’t want to stand out from the crowd in a good way?
Sometimes we can be a bit forgettable, though, and rarely is that more evident than in the corporate environment. Like when you’ve met the regional manager three times, but you can tell she still doesn’t remember your name when you go up to talk to her after the quarterly department meeting. While it’s difficult not to take it personally, someone failing to remember your name isn’t a reflection on you as a person, or on the quality of your work if it’s in an academic or professional setting. In fact, being a nice, inoffensive person may make you more likely to fade into the background of someone’s memory. Better not to be remembered than to be remembered for the wrong reasons!
So what are some ways a person can make themselves more memorable without leaving a bad impression? We’ve got three tips you can try.
1 – Voice an opinion/have a point of view
While it can often feel safer to go with the crowd in a class or in the boardroom, being just another supportive voice in a chorus isn’t going to make you stand out. We’re not saying you should express an opinion you don’t hold just for the sake of making an impression, but if you do have an opinion or insight that is different from everyone else, try voicing it. You don’t need to be a jerk about it, just present your position as something to possibly consider, or a thought worth exploring. You can even say you’re playing devil’s advocate. If you’re respectful, and not dealing with someone who’s incapable of hearing a different point of view, you have a good chance of making yourself a little more memorable.
2 – A little humor never hurts
You don’t have to be a comedian. Not everyone is able to make quick jokes off-the-cuff, but having a sense of humor often makes people more relaxed around you. It also doesn’t hurt to have at least one inoffensive joke, or funny anecdote in your pocket at all times. Don’t worry about being the funniest person in the room, instead just try to be someone people think of as kind of as fun. And don’t be afraid to laugh at other people’s jokes as long as the environment is relaxed enough.
3 – Remember the other person
Whether it’s your professor or your boss, the person you’re speaking to may have a lot of names to remember and may not be able to come up with yours immediately. One way to make yourself worth remembering is to approach the person and speak to them about something they or did that interested you, or you thought was insightful, or that you’d like to know more about. When you show very specific interest in what someone said or did, they’re going to think of you as someone worth remembering. Be sure to reintroduce yourself to give them a chance to remember your name this time. Try something like, “Hi Ms. So-and-So, I’m not sure if you remember me, I’m . . . “ You’ll find that you become someone whose name is worth remembering very quickly.
