Jan 28, 2008 7:03 pm US/Central
How To Build Rapport And Make Connections
Cathrine Hatcher
Rapport is the ability to connect with others in a positive way. Its essential component is
YOU
and the courtesy and empathy you show others. Good rapport is fundamental to creating lasting relationships.
Building Rapport and having the ability to connect with other people is essential to a well-rounded Image. What do you want your customers, co-workers, your family and friends to get from you? How do you want others to see you? How do you want them to feel about you? You have to be able to answer these questions to work towards presenting an Image/Impression of
your
choosing .
If you want to stay in business and be successful in all your relationships, the biggest thing you'll need to do is first build rapport. As Human beings who usually long for and respond well in relationships, we're looking to see if we can make a connection when we first see others. It's just part of the fabric of our being.
We're always sizing up the other person to see if we will have the
ability
to make a connection or whether or not we even
want
to connect. Basically we do the same thing animals do. Do you have a dog? Do you take your dog for a walk? Think about this….when you're walking your cute little pooch in the park and he sees another little pouch, those pups are deciding in just a few seconds whether they'll be friends or foes. You've probably seen two dogs encountering each other with their tails erect in that nervous quick waging motion….or tail tucked between their legs, haven't you?
We do the same thing when we look at others we're meeting for the first time. No….not tucking our tail between our legs!!! You are assessing in your subconscious in just a few seconds whether the person you're looking at is going to be someone with whom you can have a positive relationship. You are thinking ( Whether you realize it or not….which most times you don't ) "Is this person going to be a friend ( Friend/Foe….Help Me/Hurt Me? ) and can they help me with a particular need? Can you trust this person and can you have a good relationship with them?" All these questions and feelings are racing through your mind and you'll come up with an initial impression in just 7 – 30 seconds and some studies show it's even faster than that!….amazing….isn't it?
Rapport begins with the first Impression, but it's more about what you do or the other person does after that first 7 – 30 seconds. Rapport is about building those valuable relationships that will be the foundation to success in your business, in your marriage, with your children and in your social life. Studies show, it takes the average person about 10 minutes to decide how much you will be a part of their future, if at all.
In a joint study by the Universities of Minnesota and Ohio State in which a 164 college freshmen were surveyed, they found that even snap judgments had a profound influence on the development of future relationships. In the study, they paired same-sex students whom had never met. Each pair was allowed 3, 6 or 10 minutes to talk, after which the students predicted whether or not they could or would have a positive future relationship with the one they talked to.
Nine weeks later, the students were surveyed again to see what types of relationships had developed if any. Those who initially gave their partner a high positive rating developed closer relationships as a result of that first encounter .
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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