Management Tips:

How to develop ...

(Continued from yesterday)

Most psychologists currently believe that once information is properly encoded and stored in long-term memory, it is relatively permanent.

The reason we cannot retrieve information at one time but can at another is because of interference from other information that was also learned.

The interference might come from information learned before (proactive interference) or after (retroactive interference) the information being tested for. Whereas decay appears to be problem of storage, interference is a problem of retrieval.

Wendi Eldh, a communications trainer who teaches memory skills, say,

‘We don’t forget, we just have not learned it in the first place’. She stresses that it is possible to strengthen memory by training the brain to remember things. Here are a few practical and proactive memory aids that work.

1. Set reminders or alarms about when to make a phone call or participate at a meeting.

2. Prepare regular agendas listing deadlines, thing to-do and projects to-be-completed. This will be handy in keeping track of tasks and events. But, do check the agenda regularly.

3. Use a buddy system to have someone remind you of announcements or work to be done.

4. Writing down reinforces things one is trying to remember. So, take notes of important instructions if you have difficulty in recalling them later.

5. Live by the rule- ‘When interrupted, immediately write down what you were doing’. Jotting down on ‘stick notes’ and keeping them in highly visible places will jog the memory.

6. Regular reading, learning and mental challenges like puzzles, crosswords, etc. keep the brain stimulated. As doctors advise ‘Simple mathematical calculations and saying things out loud activate the brain, particularly the prefrontal cortex which governess cognition, emotion and memory, enables the maintenance and improvement of the brain function.

7. Using methods like ‘radiant thinking’ or ‘mind mapping’ to assign interest visual images for tasks or things will overcome mental blocks and enhance retentiveness.

8. Mnemonics is another system that uses a form or words of letters to memorise important information.

9. Mind mapping techniques will go a long way to boost your memory power.

10. Before you retire to bed, remember to identify the matters you want to put into your long term memory. Having recollected those items, say to yourself that they are permanently stored in your brain.

Whenever you recollect something, always congratulate your brain by saying “I have an excellent memory”, My memory power is very good” your brain will perform wonders for you!