Rapport is the glue that holds together many types of relationships, from colleagues to clients. It’s a connection between people that leads to collaboration and trust. When you build rapport with your clients, you’re focused on genuinely getting to know them so you can best serve them. When you build rapport with your co-workers, it makes the workplace more enjoyable for everyone. When you and your colleagues feel comfortable working together, you’re more likely to share ideas and lend a helping hand.
How can you feel more in sync with a prospect, client or co-worker? Julia Martins, a work management expert, has a few ideas. In this issue of PromoPro Daily, we share her tips for using your strengths to build genuine connections at work.
1. Know who you are. To build an authentic connection, always be yourself. Understand your strengths and weaknesses when engaging with people. For example, if you’re not great at small talk, Martins suggests engaging people in deeper conversations. Instead of talking about the weather, ask them what they found most interesting about a recent presentation or article they read.
2. Practice active listening. Make sure you listen to understand instead of planning what you want to say next. Martins says this is a great way to build meaningful connections and invest in deeper conversations. When you truly listen to someone, you can understand them better. This, in turn, makes them feel more heard around you.
3. Watch your body language. Are you inadvertently showing disinterest? Maybe you sit with your arms crossed or keep looking at your phone. Instead, Martins recommends using positive body language like nodding along, smiling and making eye contact.
4. Look for commonalities. This is an easy way to build rapport. Maybe you notice a diploma from your school or a picture of a co-worker’s kid playing soccer. Use those similarities to build a deeper connection with people. Martins says it’s often much easier to forge a connection with someone when you have something in common.
5. Embrace empathy. What if you don’t have much in common with someone? Practice empathy. Martins says you can do this by focusing on the other person’s needs and how you can help them. If there’s a new hire in your office, offer to grab a coffee together or show them around. Building rapport is all about making a connection with another person, Martins says.
Like any soft skill, it takes time to hone your rapport-building skills. It’s worth it, though. When you invest in connections with others, it enhances communication and strengthens relationships.
Compiled by Audrey Sellers
Source: Julia Martins is a work management expert and contributor to the Asana blog.
