Am I forgetful?

I was at a networking event recently, and I bumped into a chap who I hadn’t seen
for a long time.  He’d been a BNI member in one of the first chapters I’d supported, some seven years ago, and had left the group when he sold his business.

We had a very enjoyable conversation – both catching up on old times, and also finding out about what we were both doing right now.  It turns out that I have a number of contacts that he would love the chance to speak to, and of course, I was happy to try and facilitate some introductions.

As is good practice in referral marketing, he told me exactly what I should say when I spoke to my contacts, and we agreed a time for me to follow up with him on how I’d got on.

The next day however, as I prepared to make some calls, my mind went totally blank on what I was supposed to say to potential referrals!  I couldn’t believe it!  We’d only had the conversation the previous evening, and he’d told me exactly what to say!

This got me thinking.  Clearly, I was in a position where I was able to help someone, and crucially, there was enough of a relationship between the two of us for me to want to help – so why couldn’t I recall the words I needed?

I don’t believe that I’m forgetful: I think that it has more to do with the way I take in information – this is termed my Learning Style.  Everyone is dominant to a certain extent in one of three learning styles – Auditory, Visual, and Kinaesthetic.

Auditory learners primarily like to learn by listening, while Visual learners mainly learn by what they see.  Kinaesthetic learners, meanwhile, principally learn by physically trying something out.

My dominant Learning Style is Visual – and thinking back to the conversation at the networking event – the information I needed to recall was entirely delivered to me in an Auditory style.  Perhaps then, it was no wonder that I struggled to remember it.

Considering it further, what I should have done is write what I needed to say down – a typical Visual Learning tactic – and a great way of doing this at a networking event is to write the information on the back of the person’s business card.  There are a couple of key benefits to doing this:

Firstly, of course, it would have aided my memory retention and assisted with my ability to follow up.  Secondly, think how it makes the other person feel: they’re giving you information, and you are actively noting down to make sure you can help them.  That’s got to increase their desire to help you back in return.

Have you considered how your Learning Style affects how you network?

Tagged as: auditory learners, chap, DyslexiaDyslexia, EducationEducation, enjoyable conversation, extent, learning style, Learning stylesLearning styles, long time, networking event, PsychologyPsychology, referral marketing, visual learners