Use The FORD Method To Build Stronger Relationships Faster

by James Foxall, President, Tigerpaw Software

Relationships make the world go around. They build businesses, blossom into friendships, and even make babies! Developing strong relationships quickly with strangers is something that I’ve often found challenging. My nature is to have a relatively small number of very close friends, and therefore I often keep my private life private. This means I also don’t ask others about their private lives – and that’s what keeps people at a distance.

Recently, I went through ICAN’s Defining Leadership program. This is a three part program, each part consisting of two full days of leadership development. Everyone goes into a program like this for different reasons, and each comes out of the program with different results. One of the many things I got out of the program was a realization that I needed to – and I was able to – improve my interpersonal skills; I could take all of my relationships to a higher level!

During one of our sessions, guests were brought in to discuss their own leadership experiences. One of the guests that came to our session was gentleman named DJ. After a brief mingling period, all of the program participants, coaches, and guests sat in a circle. There were about 20 of us in total. DJ was one of the first to speak, and somehow the discussion swung to the topic of people’s names. We discussed how remembering and using people’s names greatly furthers relationships. Another guest who knew DJ remarked that DJ probably had the names of everyone in the room memorized. We all then watched in amazement as DJ went around the room and recited everyone’s names, with near perfect accuracy. Every- one in the room was stunned. His friend then said to give DJ a week and he’d have all of our kids names memorized too.

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