Importance of Calling People by Their Shadow

Regardless of its origin or its culture, all people they have a name. With him we identify ourselves as individuals and, at the same time, we establish a communication with the rest. For any individual, people can be divided into two large blocks: those who are known by name and everyone else.

What is your name?

The first thing we do when we meet someone is ask their name. From this specific information we can already establish an effective and fluid personal contact. This simple question is not only a question of protocol, because with it an exchange of ideas and true communication is already possible.

If every day I meet the same neighbor in the elevator and we both greet each other, I am complying with a general rule of education and civility

However, if in addition to the greeting I call him by his name, I am doing something else, because I communicate several ideas at the same time:

1) I am reminding him that I know who he is and, therefore, it is not just any neighbor but Antonio, Vicente or Ana,

2) by mentioning his name, I am expressing greater closeness and

3) in some way I convey my desire to establish a cordial relationship.

We have all seen a movie in which a suicide bomber tries to be rescued by a policeman or a firefighter. In these extreme situations, the question what is your name acquires a special meaning. With it, it is possible that the communication between the suicide and his savior is more intimate and sincere. Using the name of the potential suicide may experience a calming psychological effect.

Identification plates with the name of the employee

In many companies, employees who serve the public wear an identification badge with their name. This strategy also has an effect on communication between customer and employee. With the name plate, a personalized relationship mechanism is activated, since the customer does not interact with an indeterminate employee but rather speaks with María, Verónica or Luis. He job facing the public is based on the attention to the customer, who will feel well cared for if the clerk can be identified by his name.

Something similar occurs with the work of telemarketers, since the first thing these professionals do is communicate their name and ask the customer what their name is.

Images: Fotolia. Igor Zakowski/Srdjan