Building rapport only happens in the presence of an ongoing trusting relationship. Once trust is established, some ways to build rapport include:
- Maintain eye contact. Maintaining eye contact communicates care and compassion – but don’t stare; be natural
- Show compassion. Compassion is being with the suffering of others in a way that includes kindness, empathy, generosity and acceptance, and evokes a desire to help.
- Be curious and interested, seek to understand and see a person’s strengths and interests.
- Provide positive feedback, encouragement to keep going, let them know you support them and their decisions
Personal Reflection
Ask yourself: Do I really understand what this person is saying or trying to say?
One way to be sure is to say back what you think the person is trying to tell you and to ask if you have understood correctly. For example:
“If I understood correctly…”
- “You’re feeling…”
- “You’re saying…”
- “You would like…”
- Ask – “Did I get that right?”