Tricks and tools to increase your memorability

Article contributed by Lisa Mackay.

Continuing Lisa’s series of workshops on ‘How to Maximise your profile’:

We now know that:

1. We can’t expect to be noticed if we don’t tell people to notice us
2. We each only retain 160 our of 2 million bits of information each moment
3. We can use our words to increase our listeners recollection

So what else…

1. Do something different

When we are doing our 60 seconds we each stand up, speak, then sit down.  20 minutes of this can be hard for the audience to concentrate, and we all tend to drift off.  By doing something out of the ordinary it will draw their attention back to you, and break them out of their ‘drift’.  For example:

• Walk to the front of the room to do your talk
• Stand on the chair
• Cough loudly to get their attention as you start

The most unusual I have heard of was someone who sang their 60 seconds!

2. Use Props

Again this is about doing something different to grab people’s attention.  But make sure the link is clear otherwise your audience will:

1. Be distracted trying to work out the link

OR

1. Remember the prop, but not you!

3. Tag lines

A clear tag line which explains what you do and is memorable are a great aide memoire.

4. Involve the audience

This requires them to think and therefore listen more closely.   For example, you may ask a general question to the whole audience such as ‘can someone give me an example of when …’.  Of you may address your question to one specific person, “Lisa, can you tell me the last time you …”.

 5. Repetition

Using the same 60 seconds several weeks running will help people remember the whole message.  Even the most attentive listener will not be able to repeat back word for word your whole 60 seconds.  So if you repeat the same thing several weeks running you will help them to ‘fill-in the blanks’ correctly.

6.Call to action

Include a clear call to action in your 60 seconds.  E.g. what kind of referral, call me for a dance, visit my website etc.

Lisa Mackay is Managing Director of HRtoolkit Ltd.

As educational coordinator for her BNI chapter she ran a series of educationals; this is the fourth of five. Next week... Bringing it all together