In the next series of postings, I will be dealing with the various elements in Rapport building.

There will be topics such as:

• Sensory acuity

• Tonality patterns

• Preferred representational systems

• Eye patterns

• Predicates and predicate phrases

• Communication

• Indicators of rapport

Let’s start with a general look at rapport building.

Here is the 3.50 AUDIO for your convenience.

Christopher Howard, one of the greats of NLP training describes rapport as being: “a deep and unconscious state of trust and responsiveness with another person or people.”The whole idea is based on the concept that the people who are like each other like each other.

Rapport creates a sense of connection, a sense of familiarity, a feeling of: “Don’t I know you from somewhere?”

It has been said that anything is possible in the presence of good rapport.

Whether we wish to develop rapport with one person, a small group of people, or an auditorium of thousands, the basic principles of rapport building apply.

Have you ever been in a group, and you instantly take a liking towards certain people, and yet others seem a little more difficult to come to terms with. 

There is nothing wrong with that.

There is no need for us to like everyone we meet.

We do however, need to respect them, to show them courtesy, and the attention they deserve when they speak.

Oft times when we have a negative reaction towards someone, it is mirroring and aspect within ourselves that needs addressing.

I’ve come to realize that when I have a negative reaction towards someone, I need to do some introspection.

What is it that I have that could be a mirror image of what I don’t like in that other person?

More often than not, I can see a behaviour that I exhibit, and it makes me realize I need to adjust that.

When I first heard this idea, I have to say I didn’t receive it kindly, as I’ve wisened-up, I realize that for me, it is true.

Building rapport is an indication that you respect the presence and contribution of another person who has entered your sphere, no matter how temporary, and under what conditions.

Every person deserves respect. None of us are in a position to deny any other human being respect.

To do that would be to judge, and none of us are in position to take that liberty.

I’m sure you have felt too, what a wonderful feeling it is, when you are in communication with someone, and there is rapport.

It feels great, doesn’t it?

You wish you could have this feeling with everyone.

Well, following along the principles that I’ll share with you, that’s what will happen.

I just need to make this final point.  There will be some people with whom you don’t want to get into rapport, and that’s okay, in actual fact, that will be good.

The reasons for this, not wanting to have rapport with someone can be for safety reasons.

However, those times aside, building rapport makes you feel good, and that’s what you want, isn’t it?