Communication

How to be Unforgettable

You’re in a meeting and you suddenly get a great problem-solving idea. You immediately state your idea, which you think is pretty darn good, but the conversation keeps talking and eventually turns in a different direction. Then, someone else chimes in with the exact same idea you just provided five minutes ago. Everyone agrees that this certainly is a great idea, and you’re sitting there wondering if everyone in the room was abducted by aliens and the last ten minutes of the conversation completely erased from their brains (or something like that).

A couple days later you overhear a coworker saying, “Caitlin gave me some great tips on how to use the new phone system.” He then goes on to explain everything you, not Caitlin, had recently told him. You’re not upset, just a little dumbfounded as to why he thought Caitlin had explained it when it was clearly you.

What gives? Why are you apparently so forgettable?

Well, first of all, you’re probably not that forgettable. It’s just that people, in general, are pretty self-centered and aren’t necessarily paying that close of attention. In fact, the book Nudge claims that the chances of anyone noticing a stain on your shirt are slim to none. (Although that hilarious Tide commercial begs to differ.)

Basically, in a lot of cases, they don’t mean to ignore or forget you; it’s just their nature.

But, there are some things you can do to ensure that people do remember it was your idea:

Consider timing.
In the first example, it’s possible that the timing was all wrong. Some people need more time to digest information and your quick-thinking idea is just too much for them to absorb so soon. Wait until it makes sense in the conversation to bring up your thoughts, and don’t be afraid to say something like, “I still think that (insert idea) is the right decision here” when the conversation gets off track.

Speak effectively.
As we’ve already established, some folks have a harder time absorbing and considering material before they can completely process. As you explain your suggest, be clear about why you’re proposing it. For example, start by saying, “Going off of what Jim just said about the decline among the 40 and above population, why don’t we (insert brilliant idea).” By bridging the conversation, you’ve not only acknowledged that someone else contributed to your idea (a fact they will most likely remember), but you’ve also helped give the other people in the room a chance to digest the previous information and understand why your idea might actually be a good one.

Coin a phrase.
It sounds silly, but it seems to work. I have done this on accident a couple times, and let me tell you, people do not forget a new phrase word or its origin. It seems a little contrived, and admittedly, I’ve never tried in on purpose, but it certainly gets people’s attention. Don’t be afraid to invent something, like a phrase, that will help others remember your idea.

Wear something to stand out.
Again, perhaps a little contrived, but some people simply blend in and clothes can really help or hurt in this matter. If you’re wearing a gorgeous red necklace, your coworkers may have a better chance remembering it was you who spoke as opposed to the other people in the room wearing their plain gold chains.

Remind people.
Before giving anyone else a chance to steal your idea, remind everyone of it. “Like I was saying earlier, the problem seems to be x, and I’m proposing y as the perfect solution.” Another way is to send out an email to a few strategic people after the meeting, and say, “As I mentioned in the meeting, (insert idea) could be extremely helpful in this situation. I am currently doing some research on the subject and would love to lead this effort.”

Get respect.
This one takes some time. If you make a suggestion and then someone three levels above you makes the same suggestion, who do you think is going to get the credit? If you have the respect of your audience, no matter what level you’re on, the chances of them acknowledging your ideas are much greater.

Even if you follow the above advice, sometimes you just can’t seem to get anyone to acknowledge you. The question often posed is: Should I have mentioned in the meeting that I was the one who had the original idea? Should I correct the coworker who mistakenly quoted someone else when it was really me who was helpful?

Well, that can tricky.

First, check your ego. Is this just an ego thing? Is it really necessary to approach your coworker and let them know that it wasn’t Caitlin who helped with the phone system; it was you? Probably not. Sometimes you just have to suck it up and let someone else take the credit.

Other times, though, you should tactfully stand up for yourself:

Your future is at stake.
If your suggestion is potentially career-changing, it’s worth it to mention it. In some situations, it may be appropriate to talk to the person who took credit for your idea (seemingly not on purpose). “Hey, Bob, that was a great meeting. I think the (insert idea), is a great solution. I was trying to get to that earlier in the meeting, and I would be happy to sit down with you discuss this in detail before you present it to Kate.”

Other times, you may need to talk your boss. Be careful with this. You don’t want to seem like kindergartener: “But that was my idea first! I said it first! Why does Sue always get the credit?”

Someone is repeatedly not giving you credit.
This is an interesting situation because it makes it a little innocent. If someone is constantly giving credit to others for your ideas, suggests, and advice, you may need to talk it over with them.

Don’t be defensive. Say something like, “Hey, Kyle, I heard you mention that Christy is going to be heading up that big marketing project. I just wanted to let you know that I’m actually doing it. No worries; just wanted to be clear.”

Of course, if they’re purposely being a jerk, you’ve got bigger problems on your hands and need to get to the bottom of that first.

 

How to you remain unforgettable?

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