to “Paul Bunyan.” Regardless of the theme park’s strategy, the fact that I still remember what a magical feeling that was is evidence to me that remembering and speaking someone’s name is the ultimate compliment.
The next time you’re at an event, function, or even the gym, do everything you can to remember the names of the individuals you meet. Bring a small notepad and write down their names. Memorize their names. And then call them by their name the next time you meet them. While it’s not easy to do, you’ll find it’s worth the effort as you become more connected with others. Be curious. During your conversations, make a goal to understand as much as you can about the topic being discussed. Train your brain to be curious about what’s being said and why it’s being said. Doing so will prevent your mind from becoming distracted and help you become an active listener. Here are just a few questions you can ask to keep yourself 100% focused on the individual. Discover: “You said X. Tell me more about that.” Clarify: “I’m not sure I caught your last point. Can you go over that again?” Understand: “Tell me, when you said X, why did you say it like that?”
you’re speaking to and on what’s being said. Of course, there are social norms to follow when making eye contact. Prolonged eye contact can quickly be interpreted as a “glare” or as something
“ A person’s name is, to that person, the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
even more creepy, but I think you get my point. Throughout the next few days, set a goal to make meaningful eye contact with others.
What’s your name? Dale Carnegie wrote his best- selling book How to Win Friends and Influence People in 1936. One of Carnegie’s most potent principles is even more critical today: “Remember that a
Repeat: “Let me see if I’ve got it. You think X, Y, and Z. Is that right? Am I
missing anything?” ”
person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” How do you feel when someone calls you by your name? When I was a kid growing up in northern Minnesota, my parents would take us to a theme park
—Dale Carnegie
called Paul Bunyan Land. One of the highlights of the park was when the giant statue of Paul Bunyan himself would call out the name of every child as they went through the doors. I thought it was magic. “How can Paul Bunyan do that?” I thought. “How does he know my name?” Little did I know at the time that the ticket taker would ask the parents the names of the kids, and they would radio the names
10 JANUARY 2024 | MELALEUCA.COM/LIA
Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online