From Ancient Orators To Modern Managers: Timeless Memory Techniques For Everyday Use

A unique feature of our modern world are the various ways mankind has developed to make life easier and more streamlined for ourselves. Nowadays, it is very common to have apps and various services for practically anything one wants to do. Be it shopping, exercising, cooking, planning your day, and even sleeping! Indeed, the world is littered with several digital reminders and productivity apps which promise more effective and efficient use of one’s time and resources. However, you cannot help but wonder how our predecessors approached productivity and reminders in their time. Indeed, some of the most effective memory techniques were developed thousands of years ago by Greek Orators and Roman Philosophers, to aid in their activities.

During these times, there was no play store or internet where, say, Aristotle could access a wide selection of apps to help in delivering speeches and managing his resources. Regardless, they made do with certain manual techniques, which are still relevant to this day. These methods were designed to help speakers take not of complex ideas, without notes; which is a pretty useful skill in today’s corporate world and daily tasks.

The Method of Loci/Memory Palace

The technique of loci is one of said ways these ancient orators used. It involves tying important information to physical locations. In using the memory palace method, one imagines their favorite place and its features. Then, they visualize information within this space in order to make recall easier. Take, for instance, a person trying to remember points for a presentation. They would probably use their home and tie specific information to specific places in their home. Like the introduction being at the front door, the outline being on the couch, their first point being on the kitchen counter, and so on. In this way, they are able to access this information in order and it makes forgetting really difficult to do. Plus, it’s fun to do! Modern managers may make use of this method to make memorization and prioritization tasks really easy.

Chunking Information Like the Stoics

Chunking is another method from ancient times which is still relevant today. It involves placing information into manageable groups or chunks to remember easily. Recall the last time you ate a heavy meal like kenkey or banku. Did you swallow the whole ball at once or did you cut of smaller pieces at a time? I bet it was the latter! The ancients would break down complex information, which they were famous for, into manageable parts for easier understanding and recall. In the modern workplace, chunking can help with memorizing project steps, learning new concepts, or even remembering names and faces in meetings. This can be done effectively by creating small, themes groups of information and visual cues to enhance recall during presentations and assessments. Remember, instead of trying to swallow the ball of kenkey that is workplace information whole, chunk it!

Using Visualization and Emotion

The power of imagination is timeless, and emotion is nothing to scoff at either. The modern world was built off the backs of imaginative people, whose ideas reshaped the natural world to our liking. This demonstrates the profound usefulness of visualization techniques, which were around several centuries ago, and still exist today. These techniques involves being able to picture a goal, then working towards it. Ancient speakers often paired information with vivid mental images and emotions to make them more memorable. They created mental stories around tasks or ideas, choosing to incorporate stories or not, as well as strong emotions, to make them easier to recall. A famous example of this is the Socratic Method, where Socrates asked questions which placed the responder in the shoes of the character in the query. This technique was so effective and thought provoking that it earned him the moniker of “The Gadfly of Athens”. So, the next time you have a meeting or presentation, imagine the agenda as a story, where each item becomes a character or scene in a short movie in your mind.

Applying Rhythmic Repetition

Have you ever read a poem? It is interesting how they all seem to tell a story, but in smaller, rhythmic chunks. This is the technique of rhythmic repetition. Many ancient texts were memorized using this technique or meter, which is why poetry was such a popular medium for recording information. In the modern world, everyone uses repetition to some extent. Making this activity follow a particular rhyme may spell the difference between successful reproduction and failure. Whether it is for rehearsing lines for a presentation, memorizing key statistics, or retaining complex data, rhythmic repetition is definitely a valuable option. Take, for instance, the popular “Thirty days has September…” mnemonic device which is used by both children and adults to determine how many days are in a month. Let’s perform a simple exercise together: choose some information to be remember and make up short rhythmic phrases that capture the essence of what needs to be remembered.

Conclusion

It is quite ironic that in a time filled with information overload, we have to rely on a relatively simpler time to make sense of it all. The ancient techniques offer a simpler, more mindful approach to managing information. I encourage you to try out one or two of these memory techniques in your daily routines, and transform your minds into memory palaces, gaining confidence in recalling key information.