6 Ways to Improve Your Rapport with someone

What Is Rapport?

Rapport (Oxford Dictionary): a friendly relationship in which people understand each other very well

Rapport (Jigar’s Dictionary): The basis for deep, close, and harmonious interpersonal interactions is rapport. Creating a natural relationship with people is all that is required.

Trust and rapport are comparable. You may develop rapport and trust at the same time, but rapport is more concerned with creating a connection or link, whereas trust is more concerned with developing a reputation for trustworthiness, consistency, and keeping your promises.

How to Build Rapport?

You can't build rapport on your own since it requires two-way communication between individuals. However, by adhering to these six steps, you may learn how to develop it.

Warning:

When utilising these strategies, use your best judgement. Be careful not to influence individuals into taking a course of action that is against their best interests or to use them in an unethical or manipulative manner to sell people something that they wouldn't otherwise desire. 

Analyze Your Appearance

First impressions matter, and your look should facilitate communication rather than act as a roadblock. Dress a bit "better" than the individuals you're about to meet as a thumb rule. However, you may immediately dress down if you arrive and realise that you are overdressed for the occasion.

Keep the Basics in Mind

Remember the fundamentals of effective communication:

• Be culturally sensitive.

• Smile.

• Relax .

• Remember the names of people.

• Maintain good posture and keep your head up.

• Listen closely and pay attention.

• Keep your visit brief. (Don't outstay)

These core principles serve as the foundation for effective communication. It will be difficult to establish rapport without them, as they will assist you in establishing trust, empathy, and the impression that you are listening to them.

Find a point of agreement

Finding common ground can help you establish rapport, so make small talk to find something you both have in common.

Most people enjoy discussing themselves, and the more genuine your interest in them, the more likely they are to relax and "open up." Use open-ended questions to elicit personal information, such as whether you went to the same School, university, or College, have similar hobbies, grew up in the same city, or support the same sports team. Even expressing your mutual frustration with the traffic that delayed your commutes to work can help you get closer to someone.

Tip 1: It is critical to be genuine and sincere while avoiding overdoing things. Make up an interest or try too hard to establish rapport. This can not only appear desperate and off-putting, but it can also damage your credibility!

Tip 2: Laughter is an excellent tool for establishing rapport but use it with caution. Not everyone can tell a joke, and what you consider acceptable sarcasm may offend someone else. If you suspect that a comment will be misconstrued, don't make it.

Develop Common Experiences

Rapport cannot develop without human connection, and one of the best ways to interact is to create new, shared (Common) experiences. Attending the same conference session together or as difficult as collaborating on a new management process. Collaborating to define challenges, devise solutions, and design strategies, for instance, can help you and the other person get closer.

Show Empathy

Understanding other people requires seeing things from their point of view and acknowledging their feelings. To understand and share another person's point of view, you must first learn what makes him tick. As previously stated, many individuals enjoy talking about their likes and dislikes, needs and desires, challenges and successes, so ask open-ended questions and allow them to express themselves.

You must truly listen to what they say in order to answer properly and with curiosity. As a result, it's critical to be a good listener and to enhance your emotional intelligence. You can also employ Perceptual Positions, a strategy for viewing things from the views of others.

Tip: It's difficult to build rapport with someone who simply wants to talk about themselves, so attempt to balance the discussion. Attempt to share as much as the other person. As a consequence, you'll both feel more at ease. 

Matching & Mirroring

Barrack Obama (L) David Cameron (R)

The same facial expressions and body language of Barack Obama and David Cameron in the picture are the result of mirror neurons. Mirroring of emotions results in rapport-building between followers and leaders, which enhances a leader's efficacy.

According to research, we favour those that we believe to be similar to ourselves. Mirroring and matching are ways for developing rapport through mimicking the other person.

What you say isn't the only thing that matters. Psychologist Albert Mehrabian discovered that the words we use account for about 7% of our communication concerning emotions or attitudes. Our speech nature accounts for a higher amount (38%) and our body language accounts for up to 55%. So, if you don't consider the "whole picture" of human communication, you'll be missing out.

So, use the following strategies to establish rapport:

Take note of the other person's body language, which includes gesture, posture, and emotion. Consider imitating him by resting your chin on your right hand if he lays his chin on his left hand. You would use your left hand to match it.

Adopt the same temperament. You should act similarly to the other person, whether they are introverted or extroverted, shy or exuberant. If he's restrained, for example, you should be as well, otherwise you'll come across as abrupt or invasive.

Use similar terminology. If he uses basic, direct language, you should as well. Match his speaking manner if he uses technical terms. You can also repeat important or favourite words or phrases.
Match the accent, rhythm, and volume of the other person's speech patterns. For example, if he speaks softly and slowly, lower your vocal tone & speed. (According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, this is the most efficient approach to create rapport.) It's simple, yet it gives the other person a sense of comfort and understanding.)

When mirroring and matching, caution and common sense are required. For example, don't mimic every word and motion. You risk offending someone if you do. Be subtle and aim to get to the point where you're naturally synchronising your behaviour, so the other person doesn't notice what you're doing.

Mirroring and matching can be tough to learn. However, keep in mind that we all automatically mirror and match family, mates, and colleagues on a daily basis. Try role playing if you want to practise.

Tip: If individuals are aware of body language, they may notice that you are mirroring, which may have the opposite effect that you desire. So, instead of being mechanical, be calm and suitable.

Creating Rapport Again

It takes time to reestablish trust (Rapport) when it has been broken.

First, consider why you lose rapport in the first place. Be modest and explain what happened in an honest and straightforward manner. If you must apologise, do so.

Next, consider how to repair any shattered trust. Put up extra effort if necessary, and maintain your word. Transparency and genuine concern for the other person's needs will go a long way toward re-establishing trust and rapport.

Important Considerations 

When you develop mutual trust, friendship, and affinity with someone, you develop rapport.

Building rapport can be extremely beneficial to your career because it allows you to establish good interpersonal relationships, which can open many doors for you.

To establish rapport, follow these six steps:

1. Analyze Your Appearance.
2. Keep the Basics in Mind
3. Find a point of agreement.
4. Develop Common Experiences.
5. Show Empathy.
6. Matching & Mirroring.

Long-term relationships are best built. However, if necessary, you can use these strategies to build it quickly.

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