When was the last time you walked into a meeting already knowing what matters to the person you’re meeting—and what would instantly resonate?

Most professionals spend more time choosing what to wear than researching who they’re meeting. That’s not preparation… that’s winging it.

In Episode 016, we break down how to Pre-Read the Room before you ever step into it—because the 1st 5 Minutes don’t start at the handshake. They start when you open your laptop and Take the 5 Before the 5 to Find the 5.

Big Idea

Elite Business Connectors don’t wing the 1st 5 Minutes. They prepare for them.
➡️ Take the 5 Before the 5 to Find the 5.

What You’ll Learn

• Why your “pre-game routine” matters (and why most people don’t have one)
• The 3 benefits of Pre-Reading the Room:
  1. Gain key intel
  2. Calm your nerves
  3. Increase confidence
• The difference between random research vs targeted research (for connection)
• Where to look to find real connection points:
  • Company website
  • LinkedIn (company page + individual profile)
• How to uncover 5 creative connection points that actually spark conversation
• How to use your LTP (Lead Talking Point) without wasting it
• Bonus: the 2QM rule (Two Question Minimum) to keep momentum once you find a connection point

The 5 Connection Points Examples

Use a mix of professional + personal:

• Current/past roles (tenure, transitions, new role questions)
• Education (school, degree, shared connections)
• Certifications/awards/accomplishments (noticed = valued)
• Activity section (posts, comments, articles)
• Personal wins/updates (events, milestones, achievements)

Action Steps (Do This Before Your Next Meeting)

1. Schedule “Take the 5 Before the 5” on your calendar
2. Do targeted research (connection > impressing)
3. Build your list… then trim it to your best 5

The System Elite Connectors Use to Remember Names

If you’re serious about improving your business communication skills, I created a step-by-step system you can download right now — absolutely free.

👉 Grab it here:

Buy the 1st 5 Minutes Book:

• 1st 5 Minutes Book

Follow Me on Social Media:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• YouTube

Episode Big Idea

Remembering names isn’t a memory issue — it’s a focus issue.

The Real Reasons We Forget Names

1. The Excuse: “I’m Bad With Names”

• Why saying this wires your brain not to try
• What that excuse silently communicates to the other person
• Why it sounds like you don’t care (even if you do)
• Reframing memory as trained vs. untrained

2. We’re Not Ready to Receive the Name

• What your brain is actually focused on during introductions
• Why names “fly past us” before we’re mentally ready
• The importance of mental availability in the first moments of connection

3. We’re Focused on What We’ll Say Next

• Why trying to be impressive sabotages connection
• Kevin Horsley’s insight: “People don’t hear names because they’re trying to be interesting instead of interested.”
• The truth: forgetting isn’t about memory — it’s about misplaced focus

Why Remembering Names Matters More Than You Think

• Research from The Elite Business Connector book:
  • 75% say remembering names is a high priority
  • Nearly 75% admit they forget names quickly
  • Only 36% consistently remember names
• What remembering someone’s name silently communicates:
  1. You care about them
  2. You pay attention to details
  3. You’re actually listening

How to Nail the Name Every Time

1. Control the Timing

• Why you shouldn’t lead with names
• Using the 1st 5 Minutes framework:
  • Read the Room
  • Begin the Banter
  • THEN exchange names
• Why sequence matters for retention

2. Be Ready

• Making the micro-decision that names matter
• Preparing your focus before the name is said

3. Use the “Three-Peat” Method

• Say the name three times:
  • Beginning: confirmation
  • Middle: reinforcement
  • End: lock-in

Five Name-Remembering Hacks That Actually Work

1. Ask About the Preferred Name

• James vs. Jim, Elizabeth vs. Beth, David vs. Dave
• Why preference matters more than correctness
• How ignoring it costs instant credibility

2. Get the Spelling

• Why spelling creates memory anchors
• “Bryan with a Y” and the power of playful repetition
• Unique spellings = instant connection points

3. Get the Backstory

• Why stories make names sticky
• One simple question that unlocks memorability

4. Unique Names

• How name curiosity creates unexpected moments of impact
• Why both people walk away feeling better

5. Last Names (and How to Use Them)

• Asking about ethnicity and family origin
• Alliteration and shared initials
• Leveraging last names to reinforce first names
• Humor as a memory enhancer

6. Tough or Foreign Names

• Why effort beats perfection
• How trying earns instant respect

Buy the 1st 5 Minutes Book:

• 1st 5 Minutes Book

Follow Me on Social Media:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• YouTube

When was the last time a business conversation actually went the way you planned?

Not the slide deck.
Not the proposal.
The conversation.

In this episode of the Elite Business Connector Podcast, Bryan Buckley breaks down the six connection skills that separate average communicators from elite business connectors—especially in the first five minutes of any business conversation.

Too many professionals rely on titles, credentials, or hope to carry the conversation. Elite connectors don’t wing conversations—they engineer connection.

You’ll learn:

• The three focus areas that drive elite communication: Communication, Conversation, and Connection
• The ARE Be Skills: Be Aware, Be Real, Be Engaging
• The ALL Do Skills: Ask, Listen, Learn
• Why being a “people person” doesn’t guarantee real connection
• How to use better questions, locked-in listening, and observational intelligence to stand out fast
• How to create trust, momentum, and clarity—without sounding scripted or salesy

Whether you’re in sales, leadership, or any role where conversations matter, these six skills are learnable, repeatable, and immediately applicable.

Elite business connectors don’t rely on personality.
They rely on skill.

🎧 Subscribe for weekly insights on communication, connection, and influence
📩 Questions or feedback? Email Bryan at Bryan@BryanBuckleySpeaks.com

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