How to Develop Immediate Rapport

Developing rapport with other people doesn't happen by accident. Building rapport requires paying conscious attention to those aspects of human interaction that improve our connection with other people. Practice the following techniques, and your rapport skills will improve dramatically.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Smile. A sincere smile demonstrates friendliness, warmth and approachability better that any other action. Make your smile sincere by visualizing yourself interacting positively with the person you've just met.

2. Make eye contact. Really look at the person, focusing on the individual, rather than on your own needs, desires, or agenda.

3. Use appropriate non-verbal cues to demonstrate openness to the other person's ideas. Lean forward slightly to show interest in what the person has to say. Use non-threatening postures, such as placing your hands loosely in your lap when you sit or letting them hang comfortably at your sides when you stand. Don't cross your arms or put your hands on your hips. These postures send signals of resistance.

4. Demonstrate enthusiasm for the topics that concern the other person. Express your interest by asking relevant questions to help you better understand the person's point of view. Pay attention to the answers, bringing up related points that add value to the conversation. If you have no real interest in the topic, develop rapport by letting your interest in the person override your resistance to the subject matter.

5. Look for common ground. Emphasize the areas and points about which you both agree.

6. Respect the other person's right to an opinion, even if it differs from your own. "Agree to disagree" when your viewpoints differ so much that they can't be reconciled. This is a key element in developing rapport despite differences.