Rapport is the sense of mutual understanding and trust that makes people willing to listen to you and work with you. You can build it deliberately: find common ground, listen fully, match the other person’s pace and use open body language. This guide covers the techniques and how to re-establish rapport when it is lost – see BOTI’s workplace essentials and personal effectiveness courses.
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What is rapport?
Rapport is a relationship of mutual understanding and trust, in which people feel that the other person understands their feelings or ideas and they communicate easily. It is built through attention, common ground and respect, and it can be rebuilt when it is lost.
Techniques for building rapport
- Find common ground. Shared interests, goals or experiences give a conversation a natural starting point.
- Listen fully. Give the other person your attention, ask open questions and check that you have understood before you respond.
- Match, do not mimic. Subtly matching the other person’s pace, tone and energy helps them feel understood; obvious copying has the opposite effect.
- Use open body language. Natural eye contact, an open posture and attentive facial expressions show interest.
- Be empathic. Acknowledge the other person’s point of view, even when you disagree.
- Mind the basics. Use people’s names, be on time and follow through on what you promise.
How to re-establish rapport
Rapport can break down after a disagreement, a mistake or a long silence. Acknowledge what went wrong, listen to the other person’s view without defending yourself, agree on a next step and then keep to it. Consistency over the following weeks matters more than any single conversation.
Rapport at work
Rapport helps in sales conversations, negotiations, presentations, coaching and day-to-day teamwork. People who build it easily tend to resolve conflict faster and win support for their ideas. BOTI covers these skills in its Interpersonal Skills Course (1 day) and Networking Within the Company Training (1 day); for presenting to a room, see the Professional Presentations Course (2 days).
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Frequently asked questions
What is rapport?
Rapport is a relationship of mutual understanding and trust in which people understand each other’s feelings or ideas and communicate easily.
How do you build rapport quickly?
Find common ground, give the other person your full attention, ask open questions, match their pace and tone naturally, and use open body language.
Can rapport be rebuilt after a conflict?
Yes. Acknowledge what went wrong, listen to the other person’s view, agree on a next step and keep to it consistently.
Does BOTI offer rapport training?
Rapport building is covered in BOTI’s one-day Interpersonal Skills Course, which runs in-house at your premises, at BOTI’s venue in Sunningdale, Johannesburg, or live online.
Practise these techniques in BOTI’s Interpersonal Skills Course (1 day) course. Training runs in-house at your premises, at BOTI’s venue in Sunningdale, Johannesburg, or live online. Call BOTI on 011 882 8853 or email [email protected], or request a quote. This course is not accredited. It is delivered as a professional skills programme, and delegates receive a BOTI certificate of attendance.
