If there is one communication skill that will make your world a better, happier and more pleasant place to live that skill would be rapport. 

Rapport skills are what politicians, counsellors, and leaders use to create trust and understanding with you. These skills are also used by sales people to get your trust, so that they have a better chance of making that sale.

You also use these same skills with your friends and family. They are the basis for all bonds of respect. You already use this communication skill and probably without being aware of it. Rapport is hard wired in your brain and is one reason that we are so successful as a species.

What rapport does is it creates the feeling of understanding with the other person. Understanding creates trust which in turn creates a sense of openess.

So what is this thing called rapport and how do you create it.

Rapport is a state where you feel good usually, though there are negative forms of rapport as well. As we are here to leave you in a positive state of mind we will only deal with the first type.

Rapport Communication Skill Diagram

The diagram above shows the main ways that you create rapport.

Because you receive data or information from your world or environment in different ways ( Modalities ) there are several pieces to the rapport puzzle.

The first is auditory, which is to do with sounds and speech. By matching the speed of the other persons speech: their volume, tone, speed of speaking and the types of words that you use they will feel understood. 

The next modality is visual. If you match the other persons body position and their gestures you will create even more trust and understanding. Who else wants to feel trusted and understood ?

The third and final part of the rapport skills you can use is to match the breathing rate and depth of the other person.

Obviously this is just a brief overview of what is involved in creating rapport. There is so much more to learning this communication skill.

However, even just practising the three areas above will make a real improvement in your relationships.

Take them out into your world and give then a try…