How to Build Rapport: 6 Tips for Connecting With Others

Rapport is a harmonious relationship between people who have established mutual trust. Building rapport is how humans connect, identify shared feelings, and establish two-way communication. Rapport develops out of meaningful conversations and a willingness to embrace different points of view.

Rapport is important because it allows us to connect and build relationships with others. It promotes connection with others on a personal level, and it helps establish comfortable living and working environments. Great rapport facilitates the development of emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills.

Verbal communication skills aren’t enough to establish a strong relationship with another person or group; building rapport requires a number of social skills that are necessary to effectively communicate with others. Techniques for building rapport include:

1. 1. Remember people’s names. Make it a point to remember peoples’ names and faces, as this shows attentiveness and an interest in who they are. Remembering people builds trust, paving the way for open dialogue and good communication.
2. 2. Find common ground. Relating to another person by identifying a shared experience, trait, or opinion is a good way to find common ground. This type of empathy is an important tool for connecting with another individual, as it demonstrates an understanding of their feelings and past experiences.
3. 3. Actively listen. Active listening means giving your full attention to someone who is speaking. It’s an important communication skill, as it encourages openness and honesty. Active listening helps foster a conversational atmosphere and leads to effective communication. If someone feels like you are hearing them, they will likely listen to you in return, which can establish a good relationship and build great rapport.
4. 4. Ask questions. When you ask follow-up questions during a conversation, you demonstrate interest in the speaker’s point of view. This reveals that you're listening closely and want to know more. Asking questions can eliminate uncomfortable small talk and help you get into more meaningful conversations.
5. 5. Mind your body language. Nonverbal communication is central to building rapport. Pay attention to your nonverbal cues and mannerisms—body posture, eye contact, facial expressions. When someone is speaking to you, face them, make comfortable eye contact, and mirror their expressions as they speak. This shows that you are tuned in to their feelings. Be wary of body language that signals disinterest; looking at your phone or the clock can indicate that you have no authentic interest in the person who is speaking to you, which can be detrimental to both personal and working relationships.
6. 6. Reserve judgment. Good rapport develops when someone understands that they can share their feelings and ideas without fear of judgment. When your friends, family, or coworkers are speaking, withhold your criticism and only share advice or information if they request it. When you do offer critique, emphasize positivity and facilitate openness.

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