How to use onboarding games to remember names and faces

Starting a new role can be an exhilarating yet challenging experience. Beyond learning the ins and outs of a new workplace, new hires also find themselves faced with another common struggle—remembering the names and faces of their teammates. This seemingly simple task can feel overwhelming, but it’s also critical to fostering connections and building confidence early on.

Forgetting a colleague's name might feel inconsequential, but it can create subtle barriers to meaningful communication and slow down the integration process for new employees. Thankfully, gamification and association techniques are highly effective tools that help address this challenge.

This blog will explore why name recall is vital for creating a sense of belonging in the workplace and how onboarding games, like InCommon's Meet & Shuffle, can make learning names and faces fun and effortless for new hires. You'll also learn practical tips to incorporate these techniques into your onboarding program.

Why remembering names matters for new hires

Names aren’t just words—they’re powerful connectors. Addressing someone by name sends a subtle yet impactful signal that you see and value them, which can open the door to stronger communication and trust. For new hires, this seemingly small gesture helps break the ice and creates a stronger sense of belonging from day one.

Not remembering names, however, comes with risks. If a new hire struggles to establish connections early on, they may feel isolated or disengaged, leading to slower integration into the team. Over time, this sense of disconnect can impact the employee’s morale, collaboration, and overall productivity.

For HR professionals and onboarding managers, fostering early name recall is a simple yet meaningful way to set up new hires for success.

The power of association in remembering names

Our brains are wired to learn and retain information through connections. Using association techniques can help new hires tie names to specific traits, visuals, or shared interests, making them easier to remember over time.

Here’s how association works:

• Visual Cues: Linking a name to a mental image can make it more memorable. For example, “Samantha with the short hairstyle” or “Tom with the tie.”

• Name Mnemonics: Associating names with similar-sounding words or objects can also help. Think “Anna likes apples” or “Mike on a bike.”

• Shared Interests: Knowing a fun fact about a colleague creates another memorable association. If you learn that Emma loves hiking, you'll not only recall her name but also have a topic for conversation.

Encouraging new hires to use association techniques makes the process of learning names feel intentional yet approachable.

How onboarding games can make it fun

Gamification is a game-changer (pun intended) for workplace onboarding because it makes the process engaging, participatory, and enjoyable. Enter Meet & Shuffle, a gamified solution offered as part of the InCommon platform. This interactive game combines name recall with fun multiple-choice quizzes that encourage new hires to learn names and build connections.

Here’s how Meet & Shuffle works:

• New hires are presented with the names, photos, and fun facts about their colleagues.

• The game tests the new hire’s memory, making the process entertaining and interactive.

• By integrating shared interests and unique traits into the quizzes, Meet & Shuffle fosters deeper connections in addition to improving name recall.

• It’s designed for use in both virtual and in-person onboarding, ensuring inclusivity and ease regardless of the format.

Imagine you’re a new hire navigating Meet & Shuffle. You identify Katherine’s name not just by her photo but also because the game highlights a shared interest in coffee brewing. By the end of the activity, you’ve learned her name, face, and a cool personal detail that sets the stage for your next conversation.

Gamification doesn’t just make onboarding fun—it creates memorable moments that allow for smoother social integration.

Benefits of gamified onboarding with tools like Meet & Shuffle

For HR professionals and onboarding managers, incorporating gamified tools into onboarding can bring significant advantages, including:

• Faster Integration: New hires learn names and faces quickly, helping them feel like part of the team right away.

• Stronger Connections: Shared interests revealed during the game encourage meaningful interactions beyond initial meetings.

• Reduced Social Anxiety: By turning name recall into a fun activity, new hires feel more comfortable interacting with colleagues.

• Higher Engagement: Gamified tools add an interactive layer to onboarding, making it more enjoyable for new hires and existing employees alike.

• Scalability and Efficiency: Tools like Meet & Shuffle automate much of the process, saving HR teams time while delivering consistent and impactful results.

These benefits reinforce why gamified solutions should be a priority for organizations striving to create inclusive, engaging, and scalable onboarding programs.

Practical tips for integrating name games into onboarding

Want to get started with name games like Meet & Shuffle? Here’s how to integrate these activities into your onboarding process effectively:

• Schedule It Early: Incorporate these games into the new hire’s first week, ideally during an icebreaker session or team introduction.

• Customize for Your Team: Tailor the game content to your company’s culture by including fun facts or team-specific trivia.

• Encourage Participation: Get buy-in from existing team members by framing it as a way to create a more connected workplace.

• Leverage Tools Like Meet & Shuffle: Platforms like InCommon streamline the process, making it easy to host engaging and personalized games for every new hire.

If your onboarding program is virtual, Meet & Shuffle integrates seamlessly into platforms like Slack or Microsoft Teams, allowing your team to participate from anywhere and ensuring hires feel included even when remote.

Helping new hires feel at home, one name at a time

Remembering names and faces is more than just a practical skill—it’s an essential step in fostering connections, building trust, and creating a sense of belonging in the workplace. By integrating tools like Meet & Shuffle into your onboarding program, you’re not just helping new hires remember who’s who. You’re also making the onboarding experience fun, impactful, and human.

Curious to see how Meet & Shuffle could transform your onboarding process? Explore the tool on the InCommon platform today and set your new hires up for a successful start.