Mnemonics. A fantastic leadership tool
"I swear, if my memory was any worse, I could plan my own surprise party." Ecards
Most of us rarely, if ever, hear the term mnemonic or mnemonic devices yet we are surrounded by them everyday. They are a fantastic leadership tool. Pronounced /nəˈmänik/, Wikipedia defines defines mnemonic devices, as any learning technique that aids information retention or retrieval (remembering). I never knew it in a formal sense, but I used mnemonics in leadership. I still do. An old boss of mine once said, “if you want something done right once, you have to say it ten times.” I find the more repetitive I am, especially with short statements or words, the greater chance lessons I want learned or guidance I want remembered sinks in. In my small business, we were rushing to close deals and order products and we started to make mistakes. I conducted an After Action Review to examine failures and create lasting solutions. “Leave no doubt,” became the mantra. I wrote it in several places and uttered it often and randomly, like a tic - concept I call 'the broken record.'
Chunking is a form of mnemonics. PsychCentral, a professional mental health online forum, describes chunking as when a person or group breaks down information into bite-sized “chunks.” Two common examples of chunking are phone numbers and Social Security numbers. Most people divide both of these long numbers into three sections. Before-During-After operations are a great example of chunking. Break down what top three things must be accomplished before, during, and after an operation as a way to make your intent sink in.
Acronyms are another great example of mnemonics. The Army was famous for acronyms, but it had too many. We needed mnemonics just to memorize all the Army acronyms – not what we are trying to achieve in our organizations. Here is a humorous yet effective one for your kit bag. The values of my small business are Selflessness, Humility, Innovation, and Teamwork. If you didn’t immediately pick up on that, it spells SHIT. It was not my intent when creating them, but the acronym is funny and absolutely memorable. I joke about this but I'm dead serious when it comes to the values of my small team.
Rhyming and music are other effective forms of mnemonics. Who can forget, “Nationwide is on your side,” or “Yo quiero Taco Bell?” These commercials are designed to make a permanent imprint on our brains to guide our shopping activities. So too does, “thirty days hath September..,” or “measure twice, cut once.” These simple, yet memorable mnemonics can save the day when a group or individual is in the bustle of the moment yet must prevent failure or when you want something to be memorized, internalized, and espoused.
Mnemonic devices work but they must rest on a solid foundation of leadership - caring for, influencing, and investing in people. Also remember, the simple act of memorizing is not the real intent - understanding and espousing is. Memorization is just the starting point. Use mnemonic devices but take them to the next level. And remember, "It's Personal, Not Personnel!"
Rob
Rob Campbell