use people's names when I greet them

I am so useless at this! I don’t know where my mental block is coming from – probably just the confidence that I have someone’s name right. But so what if I get it wrong – they’ll probably correct me or let it slide.

Must try harder!

This morning, I used someone’s name without even thinking about it. I only realised afterwards what I’d done. There was no hint of awkwardness or hesitation, it just came out naturally.

I will retire on five for today. A good morning’s work.

Oh yes, I am rubbish.

Result: 1.

I am RUBBISH at this. Must try harder.

Tomorrow I will attempt to greet TEN people with their names. I’ll put it in my diary so I read it and remember tomorrow morning.

I’m slipping a little with this one.

Ok… a lot. I think it’s just a habit I need to get in to, but at the moment it seems so contrived.

I set myself a goal this morning… it was to greet the first five people I met with their names.

1. Success!

I think I may have come across as a lunatic through my nervousness and excitement.

2. I forgot

Interestingly, I said “Good morning” and he said “Hello”. Someone else then said “Morning, Matt” and he said “Hi, Adam”. I wonder if it reciprocates often?

3. I couldn’t recall his name quickly enough

I bumped into someone rounding a corner. It nearly always takes me about 5 seconds to recall his name for some reason. Oh well…

4. I didn’t know her name

So I asked, and had a short chat. She was one of those people who’s hardly ever in the office, so you see her about but never talk.

5. Success!

I did spend the next 20 seconds wondering if I’d used the correct name. (Of course I had).

2 out of 5 with a bonus point – that’s enough excitement for today :)

Following from my “learn how to remember people’s names” goal:

I’ve never been happy greeting people with their first name, but I’ve always found it friendlier when people greet me in that way… “Hi, Stu” is always much nicer than “Hello”. I think that came from my lack of confidence in knowing whether I actually had their name right or not. As my level of sureness that I have the right name improves, I will start trying to greet people using their name. That will be a big step.