Four Tips To Get The Conversation Started Using The FORD Method

Four Tips To Get The Conversation Started Using The FORD Method

by | Educate, Export to Stromads

Four Tips To Get The Conversation Started Using The FORD Method

Would you like to make a connection through conversation and don’t have a clue where to start?  Well, you are in the right place with these four tips to get the conversation started using the FORD method.

Dialogue doesn’t have to be hocus pocus, and you certainly don’t have to be the smartest person in the room to engage in some meaningful dialogue.  You can facilitate practical fun, meaningful conversation by asking a few simple questions to those around you.

Oh my pounding heart and sweaty palms

How do you feel about talking to people?  Is it easy for you to strike up a conversation?  Would you like to develop your skills and be more fluid in your communication?  Do you cringe at the thought of “making conversation.”  Maybe you are at a loss for words when you first meet someone.  Possibly, you just want to make a connection and don’t know where to start.

Do you ever feel your heart pounding, your palms sweating, and you just wish someone would talk to you.  Perhaps you find yourself trying to think of things other than the weather or COVID-19 to discuss. How about that deafening awkward silence, does it bother you?

Well, guess what?   You are like many of us out here.  That’s right; you are not alone.  Connection is one of our greatest needs as humans.  We want it, we need it, and now, we are going to help you get it!

Open-Ended? What’s that?

Let’s start with the basics or, as I like to say, ask a better question.  The proper term is open-ended questions or leading questions.  Simply put, these are questions that allow an opportunity for additional dialogue rather than a yes or a no answer.  These questions can be tricky, and you may need to practice.  Though, once you start using them, your dialogue will open up tremendously.

Do you ever get stuck for open-ended questions?.    Well, if you do, then read on because we have some fun leading questions for many situations.

Now, I love to talk to people or interrogate, as my partner Robb would say.  Developing effective question asking can be tricky.  So, I was pretty excited when I ran across this little nugget of information. 

I love acronyms

My research led me to this fantastic acronym F.O.R.D.   Simply stated, The F. O.R. D. method stands for Family, Occupation, Recreation, and Dreams.  These hints and reminders help us to find more interesting and not so obvious information through open-ended questions. 

I put together some of my go-to questions that may be helpful the next time you find yourself stuck.  If nothing else, remember the acronym, and you will find a lead into a conversation.  Be encouraged to use these as a jumping-off point and allow the dialogue to develop naturally.  There is no reason for rapid-fire unless, of course, it is an interrogation.  Allow the conversation to be natural and flowing.

These are Four Tips to get the conversation started using the FORD method

F-Family

It is not always apparent as to whether or not someone wants to talk about their family.  Asking them a direct question such as “ Tell me about your family” can sometimes trigger some unhappy emotions.  Personally speaking, I like to wait until I am clear on a persons’ familial relationships before I close in on what could be a sensitive territory. 

Try these instead and be discerning.  Knowing what to ask and when to ask can be a little tricky.  Navigate your conversation slowly until you find your flow.

  • Where’s home for you?
  • What are some of your family traditions?
  • What was it like growing up in your neighborhood?

O-Occupation

Occupation is a subject that needs a little more attention and follow-up.  Sometimes the question may seem to be open, when in fact, the person on the other end clams-up on us.  Be prepared to follow up with another similar question:

  • What kind of work do you do?
  • How did you come into that line of work or occupation?
  • Tell me about your typical day in the “office.”

R- Recreation

Everyone likes to talk about their “fun” life, hobbies, weekend ventures, and the places they’ve traveled.  So ask them!  Personally speaking, this is one of the most comfortable places to start.  You will even find that small children respond to these questions.

  • Tell me what you did over the weekend.
  • When things get chaotic, how do you clear your head?
  • What are you reading these days?
  • What are some of your favorite restaurants?
  • Where was your last getaway?

D-Dreams/Aspirations

Some people think this question is prying.  For me, it is just another way to communicate.  Indulge your friends and let them tell you about their dreams and aspirations. 

  • When did you know you wanted to be…..?
  • What is your silliest fear?
  • What did you want to be when you were a kid, and how did that turn out?

Hopefully, you will find value with these questions and using the F.O.R.D method. Perhaps you want more on this subject?  Here’s a quick and easy download of 30 easy open-ended questions you can use with just about anyone. 

Productive, engaging conversation is a skill, and you may need to practice. 

I appreciate you stopping by The Conversation Community, and I hope to talk with you soon.

Be Mindful, Inspire Conversation, and Continue to Encourage each other.

Much Love,

Maureen

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Four Tips For Connecting Virtually

Four Tips For Connecting Virtually

by | Export to Stromads, Motivate

Four Tips For Connecting Virtually During Social Distancing

Are you missing your people?

As more of us transition to working from home and forgoing the usual happy hour meets, we miss our friends, family, and those interactions.  In this article, I will present you with four tips for connecting virtually with intentional conversation.

As nomads, we have been socially distancing for years.  It is not unusual for Robb and me to go months without meeting up in person with family and friends.  Our tours would often take us to rural America, and we spend countless days, weeks, months, and years living out of hotel rooms or in our RV.  Social distancing was our usual way of life, long before COVID-19.

Sure, I feel lonely, isolated and disconnected too!

Needless to say, we found it complicated, maintaining relationships and even more difficult developing new ones.  Lapses in spending time together, coupled with the physical distance we experienced, caused our family connections to become strained and awkward. In retrospect, it seemed that the more time and distance we put between each other, the easier it was to stay apart. 

The feelings of disconnection, isolation, and loneliness would often fill my days.  I was caught in between two different worlds and did not know how to connect them.  Wanderlust called me away, and belonging pulled me back home. 

With the onset of COVID-19, so many people are struggling with their feelings of isolation and disconnect.  In general, people like to move about their communities and socialize.  Currently, having parties, happy hours, and even a casual cup of coffee together is unlikely. 

How do we bring our people together?

Now, more than ever, somebody has to bridge the gap and bring our friends and family together.  If you are reading this article, then chances are it is you.  There is a universal calling to gather your people and create a new way of connecting.

How do we do it?

It is relatively easy to communicate these days.  We all have cell phones, FaceTime, Messenger, and video capabilities.  One of our favorite ways to bring family, friends, business marketing groups, and clients together is through Zoom.

Zoom is an online platform specifically designed for holding video meetings and webinars.  What I like about using this software is that we can switch control of the meeting to one of the other hosts if we want to.  Unlike some of the other video calling software, Zoom allows you to mute guests, share your screen with the group, and even record the call. 

How about those 4 Tips for Connecting Virtually?

Family Night: 

Pre Arrange a video conferencing call with your family.  If it is the first time you are attempting it, you might feel awkward.  We urge you to stay with it. 

Our first family call was bizarre.  It seemed we all engaged in small talk waiting for the “meeting” to start.  Weird, right?  Our adult children, spouses, and us, and we had nothing to talk about except the weather.  How could this be?  We have known each other for 25 years or more. 

The following week, I did something a little different and we use this practice each week.  Now, one of us is responsible for an “ice-breaker” question.  The answers are hilarious, thought-provoking and allow us to get to know each other in a different light. 

Everyone in the family looks forward to our Wednesday night call.  Honestly, I am not sure why we didn’t do this years ago.  The point is, we make a standing appointment to come together as a family and have meaningful conversations.

Host a talk show: 

Pull together some of your friends and interview each other.  Each week, you and your friends take turns as the host and ask your guests an interesting question about their life. Open-ended questions are best for these interviews.  Ask a leading question, something that you want to know about a friend.   

If you are like me, and I bet you are, we want to know stuff.  What makes our friends tick.  This format is a fantastic time to ask your friends, “What do you think about … ?” 

The Conversation Community hosts a weekly show, “Off The Cuff.”  Our guests come together and engage in meaningful conversation.  The topics we explore range from practicing mindfulness to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic.  Everyone is welcome to join, and we have outlined specific rules of engagement so that each person has a chance to participate.

Virtual Trivia

Virtual Trivia is a great way to engage in a night of virtual fun.  Pick a host and develop a list of 20 questions.  The host can ask the questions.  Participants write their answers on paper.  After all of the items have been read, reread the questions and let the group answer—Award 1 point for each right answer.  At the end, add up the points and crown the winner. 

Our group awards a $5 Amazon gift card to our winners.  On our last trivia night, we had 17 participants and a whole lot of fun!

Maybe you and your friends want to join us? You can! Join us for Beyond Happy Hour & Trivia, Friday 7 pm est. We ask that you pre-register so we can send you a link!

In fact, check out all of our events! We would love to have you!

Virtual Bingo

That’s right!  What could be more fun than a friendly game of Virtual Bingo?   The Conversation Community has put together an easy to implement Virtual Bingo Game for you and your friends.  Play Picture Bingo, Alphabet Bingo, Never Have I Ever Bingo and even Adult Dirty Bingo. 

The point is, bring your family and friends together.  There is no better time than today.  Act now.  Be creative.  Inspire, motivate, educate, and connect the ones you love.  Build a community through intentional conversation.  I hope that you will use my four tips to connect virtually.

As you connect today,

Be Mindful, Inspire Conversation and Encourage Each Other.

Maureen