1 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:09,760 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good Morning, 2 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:17,440 Speaker 1: This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's 3 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:22,600 Speaker 1: tip is to use name tags unless you are one 4 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:26,640 Speaker 1: hundred percent sure that everyone in a group knows each 5 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 1: other's names. Name tags make interactions less awkward. They ultimately 6 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:39,520 Speaker 1: help people learn names better, and that in turn puts 7 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:45,560 Speaker 1: everyone at ease. It is remarkable how often groups get 8 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:49,480 Speaker 1: to gather without any structured way to communicate who is who. 9 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 1: No name tags, no name plates, no introductions, no roster. 10 00:00:56,760 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: The people convening the gathering may know everyone's names, but 11 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:05,039 Speaker 1: everyone else. Maybe the hosts assume attendees know each other, 12 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 1: but that is not always a safe assumption. Even if 13 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:14,319 Speaker 1: someone said their name at the beginning, if the group 14 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:18,759 Speaker 1: has been gathering for a while, names may have been forgotten, 15 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 1: which is problematic because as time goes on, it gets 16 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 1: more and more awkward to ask. Name tags provide an 17 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 1: easy way to remind people about who is who. If 18 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 1: you are convening a group that will meet regularly, just 19 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 1: have name tags there at the beginning and keep providing them. 20 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:46,959 Speaker 1: Maybe after half a dozen meetings or so you can 21 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 1: stop the practice. But if you've got new members coming 22 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 1: in or visitors, those name tags should come back out. 23 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 1: If you have been meeting for a while and haven't 24 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 1: been providing name tags, a new member or a joint 25 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:08,960 Speaker 1: meeting with another group could all provide a nudge to 26 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 1: make this happen, and then you can just keep providing 27 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:16,800 Speaker 1: the name tags without making a big deal of it. 28 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 1: If you are organizing a one off volunteer event where 29 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 1: volunteers may need to interact with each other or with 30 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 1: the people they're serving, the name tags become even more important. 31 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:34,399 Speaker 1: It is much more comfortable to say, Hey, Dan, could 32 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:36,960 Speaker 1: I borrow that ladder to paint the trim around the door, 33 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 1: rather than excuse me, sir hello, As you try to 34 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:44,959 Speaker 1: get someone's attention and then give up and walk away 35 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 1: with the ladder that they may have been about to use. 36 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 1: Name tags don't take the place of introductions. Certainly, if 37 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 1: you are teaching a class at your house of worship 38 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:59,679 Speaker 1: or a cooking class at a community center, it would 39 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:02,680 Speaker 1: be nice to create time for people to share something 40 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:07,640 Speaker 1: about themselves. But even if you do that, you still 41 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 1: want the name tags. Someone might have missed the first meeting, 42 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:16,800 Speaker 1: or you can miss hear a name which is just 43 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 1: awkward for everyone. Later, I know someone who has been 44 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:23,920 Speaker 1: calling me Lauren for a while, and I just don't 45 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 1: know if I'm ever going to correct it at this point. 46 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 1: Sometimes people forget. Some people are very skilled at remembering names, 47 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 1: which is a testament to their character. Some people are 48 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 1: not so good at remembering names. An introduction might not 49 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 1: do it, so best to provide the reminder. Frankly, even 50 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 1: if it is unclear if name tags might be called for, 51 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 1: it could be good to have them. Lots of people 52 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 1: go to exercise classes or play places with their kids 53 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 1: in part to make friends. Name tags remove at least 54 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 1: one awkward step and make connecting easier. They don't need 55 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 1: to be required. If you make them available, some people 56 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:17,839 Speaker 1: will take them and some won't, since perhaps some people 57 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:20,360 Speaker 1: like to be anonymous at spin class or at the 58 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:23,839 Speaker 1: little gym. But it does set the tone that you 59 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:27,440 Speaker 1: want people to get to know each other, so why 60 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:32,479 Speaker 1: not offer them. This is especially true given that providing 61 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 1: name tags is not exactly difficult. Every office supply store 62 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 1: carries them. Grab a few markers and you're good. You 63 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 1: have spent a few dollars and you've helped people get 64 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:51,120 Speaker 1: to know each other better. This is a small thing 65 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 1: that truly does make a big difference in the meantime. 66 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:03,719 Speaker 1: This is Laura. Thanks for listening, and here's to making 67 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:13,479 Speaker 1: the most of our time. Hey, everybody, I'd love to 68 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:16,479 Speaker 1: hear from you. You can send me your tips, your questions, 69 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:20,320 Speaker 1: or anything else. Just connect with me on Twitter, Facebook 70 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:25,680 Speaker 1: and Instagram at Before Breakfast Pod. That's b the number 71 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 1: four then breakfast pod. You can also shoot me an 72 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 1: email at Before Breakfast Podcasts at iHeartMedia dot com that 73 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:37,799 Speaker 1: before Breakfast is spelled out with all the letters. Thanks 74 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:39,599 Speaker 1: so much. Should I look forward to staying in touch. 75 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 1: Before Breakfast is a production of iHeartRadio. For more podcasts 76 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 1: from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever 77 00:05:54,440 --> 00:06:01,599 Speaker 1: you listen to your favorite shows. Oh my head day, 78 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:04,680 Speaker 1: mm hmm.