Here’s the quick truths about most relationships that last.
- It always starts on a great rapport
- It maintains its energy by having genuine exchanges
- It treasures experience over anything else
Most people believe in playing it safe when it comes to making introductions. They belive that asking for a person’s name, a good firm handshake, a manufactured smile and a moderate tonality during the conversation, is the best way to build rapport.
Unfortunately, that is not the case. More often than not, doing all of the above will just ensure that you sink down, in a person’s memory block quicker than Flash.
The real relationship hustler knows that it is imperative to make a deep impression, to make sure that the connection is conducive for rapport building.
So how can you build a great rapport in, let’s say, less than 60 seconds.
The key aspect here is what I will term as Focused Engagement.
There is nothing more pleasing in an interaction, than to know that you are at the center piece of someone else’s attention. You love it when someone’s eyes are transfixed on you, the body is slightly tilted at an angle to you, the vocal variety mirrors yours, your name is being mentioned and more importantly, you can really sense that the other person is genuinely listening to you.
So to build a great rapport in under a minute is essentially about paying attention.
- Ask questions to understand
- Speak to respond
- Be open and receptive
- Use the person’s name endearingly and frequently
- Focus your body language to be in sync with the other person. Mirror them if needed
- Be present
- Make the other person feel acknowledged
If you can shift your communication engagement focused on the other person within that very minute, you would have created a great rapport dynamic.
