Rapport Building
Going beyond mere acquaintance, rapport forming is a stage whereby the parties involved build a foundation of understanding, trust, and respect between each other. It is a central figure in the personal and the work relationships because of the fact that it pr..Communications, teamwork, and productivity are some of the aspects improved through the rapport reaching process.
Aimed at business professionals, the best strategies for establishing rapport in the workplace are active listening, empathy, and using open body language. For example, when you're in a meeting, you could show active listening by nodding and summarizing main points made by others, which in return, indicates you value their input. Furthermore, by imitating the body language of your colleagues, you can build a bridge of comfort and familiarity.
Since rapport building lays a foundation for the establishment of trust between the seller and the potential buyer, it is a critical factor in sales. The possibility of closing a deal goes up when a salesperson takes the time to learn the client's needs and establishes\creates a bond. For instance, a salesperson who talks about the weather or any other casual topic to get close to the customer can actually make the customer feel at ease and thus more candid about his/her thoughts about the products.
The best way to gauge the extent of rapport you have built with a person is by checking their nonverbal cues, receptiveness, and the degree of the interview they want to have with you. If this individual has steady eye contact with you, smiles at you, and tells you things about himself/herself that are not really necessary, he/she is showing that you have developed close rapport. On the other hand, if the person appears to be spiritless or not responsive to you during the conversation, it can mean that they have not built up the rapport entirely.
However, I believe the most effective way of using rapport building techniques in virtual interactions is to do it through video calls, personalizing communication, and non-verbal communication awareness. Like, for example, if one starts the virtual meeting with a friendly greeting and inquires about the other person's day, then it could help him/her create a rapport. Also, using a warm and inviting tone of voice and keeping eye contact through the camera can foster the concept of being present and together, even in remote settings.