We can all think of times when people didn't make remembering easy. Directions given at machine-gun speed. New people introduced in a flood of names and handshakes. Whenever information is passed between people, it's all too easy for it to go in one ear and straight out of the other. Thankfully, the opposite is also true. Look around you, and you'll see parents who can get their children to remember exactly what they were told; advertisers who know how to imprint their sales messages on our brains.
So, how do they do? Their secrets can be summed up in four simple words: focus, imagery, reasons and engagement.
FOCUS means ensuring that the person you're talking to can concentrate on learning. Choose your moment carefully. Check that they can properly hear or see the information. Communicate slowly and clearly enough for their memory to cope.
IMAGERY helps information to stick. Do everything your can to make other people "see" the ideas you're giving them. Add visual details to directions, and illustrate abstract concepts with metaphors.
REASONS to remember help people to put in the mental effort. So, make it clear that your words are important, and be explicit about why. Maybe this information will save them time, protect them from embarrassment, or let them enjoy a particular experience or event.
EMGAGEMENT requires you to ask questions. Point out links between new concepts and things listeners already know. Activate their senses, spark their curiosity, get them doing something physical, or simply make them laugh.
The next time you've got an important message to pass on, put some of these techniques to the test. You'll discover that there are benefits on both sides when you know how to FIRE people's memories into action.
