Hi ✌️,

And welcome back to this weeks edition of INFUZED on people. 

When I became a "superior" for the first time, I experienced a sudden distance from people reporting to me.

We weren't automatic work friends anymore. 

Then, I asked them about F.O.R.D.

Not the car, but a framework I use to achieve emotional connection again.

"F.O.R.D." 

F for FAMILY

Expressing interest in their family immediately opens an emotional channel.

Your message:

• No need to hide your identity;

• Here is a place where we care about people;

• Family is not taboo, if something is off at home, bring it up..

O for Occupation

Exchange experiences from other organizations or their university for more junior colleagues.

Your benefits:

• Understand what shaped them;

• Learn good & bad practices from other organizations;

• Often exposes opportunities and potential connections to benefit from.

R for RECREATION

Recreational activities are an easy topic to bond on, because they possess a natural levity.

Opportunities to unlock:

• Gauge level of excitement a person is capable of; 

• Offsite anyone?

• Never ending source for conversations - enjoy.

D for DREAMS

The ultimate goal: Align their dreams with your mission.

If you can show someone how working with you gets them closer to their dreams→🚀

Potential alignment:

• Learning skills;

• Supercharge their development;

• Your team as their vehicle.

The reason this framework works so well is because these 4 areas are the main building blocks of a person's thinking.

So, don't fall into the trap of trying to "just be like friends" with people reporting to you.

Do this instead. Build emotional connection.

Best, 

David