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When I worked in the hospitality industry, we encouraged employees to use the guest’s name. It makes the interaction more personal and friendly … and hopefully that leads to a better experience for the guest. But remembering names can be hard. So, we suggested a tip called the “rule of three”. When interacting with a guest, try to find three opportunities to use their name.  

I was reminded of the rule of three while reading an article from The Wall Street Journal titled “Is Repeating Someone’s Name Charming or Creepy?” I totally get the point of the article. Saying a person’s name once or maybe twice could be charming. Saying a person’s name four or five times could be creepy. Unfortunately, the article didn’t offer an exact number of times you’re allowed to say someone’s name before you move from charming to creepy. 

But for me, the article reinforced the positive value of using a person’s name correctly. Not only using it the right number of times but pronouncing a person’s name correctly. It’s a sign of respect. 

When you’re meeting someone for the first time, consider how you could apply a concept like the rule of three to your interaction. 

First, when they introduce themselves, use their name in your greeting. “Nice to meet you, INSERT NAME HERE.” 

If you’re having a conversation with them, is it possible to use their name in a question. “So, tell me, INSERT NAME HERE, what brings you to this event?” If it’s a short interaction, it might not be possible. 

Finally, as the conversation is wrapping up, you can say, “Pleasure to meet you INSERT NAME HERE.”

I recently went to a conference on artificial intelligence and met someone who saw me the next day and said my name. It was nice. And that’s the point. It’s nice when people remember you and your name. It’s nice when they say your name correctly. 

Apply this conversation to your workplace. How many managers take the time to learn how to properly pronounce employee’s names? Or do they come up with some sort of nickname to make their life easier? You might think this doesn’t happen but trust me, it does. Granted, if an employee offers up a nickname, then great. But giving a person a nickname because someone doesn’t want to take the time to learn how to properly pronounce their name is disrespectful and does nothing to encourage a positive working relationship.

I wanted to share The Wall Street Journal article and talk about names because organizations hire people regularly … and that means learning new names. Managers should be coaching and supporting employees … which means using their names. Companies conduct employee training and during sessions should be able to address employees by name. 

Find a way to remember the names of your employees and customers. It’s good for everyone. 

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring the streets of St. Augustine, FL
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20/03/2025 – 12:02 /Sharlyn Lauby
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