Top 10 Tips

So, what can I do to begin building rapport? Here are our Top 10 tips to building rapport effectively:

1. Take a genuine interest in people by getting to know what's important to others. Seek to understand rather than to be understood.
2. Pick up on the key words, favourite phrases and ways of speaking that someone uses and build these subtly into your own conversation.
3. Listen for the style of language and match your language style to theirs. Notice how someone likes to handle information. Do they like lots of details or just the big picture? Do they prefer telling stories or just the bare facts and figures? As you speak, feed back information in this same manner.
4. Look out for the other person's intention - their underlying aim - rather than what they do or say. They may not always get it right, but expect their heart to lie in the right place.
5. Adopt a similar stance to them in terms of your body language, gestures, voice tone and speed.
6. Respect the other person's time, energy, favourite people and money. They will be important resources for them.
7. Get attention before making your point (otherwise the first part of the message gets lost). Begin with phrases like: 'I have something I'd like to mention here...it's about...'
8. Use people's names, especially when not in face-to-face meetings. Address questions to people by name and thank them for their contribution by name.
9. Continually summarise and check understanding of points and decisions.
10. And to ensure you create that all-important first impression:

•  
  • Be the first to smile when you first see the other person.
  • Establish and maintain eye contact - but don't stare
  • Be the first to say hello and extend your hand. Deliver a sincere and warm greeting.
  • Use the person's name as often as you can
  • Do more listening and questioning than talking

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