Instantly Connect with Anyone…..Rapport!
Anyone!
Yes, anyone! I’ve now said “anyone” twice. Maybe three.
First, a question: if you need to effectively communicate with people daily please nod right now. That should be almost everyone, right? Now, nod again if you’ve ever communicated poorly. Ouch, right? Poor communication makes life hard! And life is hard enough and worse still if your foot is constantly in your mouth.
You’re a unique and from day-to-day or even hour-to-hour you can be in very different moods or states. And guess what – so is everyone else! Effective communication isn’t just about what you say but how you say it and even when you say it. Navigating the pitfalls of communicating with people who’s states or moods vary is helpful is a little easier if you can “read” the person across from you.
I used the term “read” on purpose because you can’t necessarily deeply know the person across from you in all situations though you can at least notice when their state shifts during your interaction – if you know what to look for. Knowing when those shifts occur can tell you when to lean in for a hug or when to run for the hills.
Have you ever been in the situation where a salesperson is only focused on only one thing? The sale! Blech! If the salesperson forgets one important thing – making sure you were “with” them – they are swimming upstream no matter how good their offer may be. The great salespeople – and we’re all selling something – actively stays connected with those around them. This connection is an active process called rapport and rapport reduces resistance…and couldn’t we all use less resistance in our lives?
Have you ever met someone who connects immediately with almost anyone they meet? There’s an underlying skill to establishing rapport and it’s either natural or practiced – and maybe both. Some do this naturally and it’s something the rest of us can develop…and quickly.
So how do you establish rapport and communicate effectively? It’s not that hard….
- Realize communication is more than just words – 57% of communication is non-verbal. What messages are you sending?
- Use your senses to establish and maintain rapport – Was your message well-received? Learn to read non-verbal clues and stay connected.
- Try mirroring and matching the person across from you – be “like” them and be liked by them. People like people who are like them.
Want more on rapport? (Hey that rhymes!) Contact us for a workshop or training and connect with anyone INSTANTLY – using rapport! Get an overview of my talk here: Rapport and Effective Communication.