Why Business Owners Should Build Rapport To Increase Their Success

Tony Robbins said, “rapport is the ultimate tool for producing results with other people."

In this article, I will be sharing about what one of those things that you could do to change how many people come running to your business and the importance of that one thing for your business.

That strategy that I am going to share with you is one that I became very familiar with while working as a school psychologist, special education administrator, on professional association committees and as a part-time faculty.

 Rapport Buidling

The strategy I am going to be sharing about is rapport building.

Now you might be wondering what rapport is or you might be saying that you don’t need it for your business. But I would challenge you on why you think you don’t need it.

Chances are that despite the type of business that you have, there are still connections that you want to be making with others. You want to be growing your network so that people in your network could refer others to you.

So guess what ….this is where rapport building comes into play.

As a school psychologist, it was important to ensure that I took time to build rapport with a student that I was evaluating or with a co-worker that I was consulting with. The reason was because it helped me to get to know the other person a little better, it helped that person to relax, and it increased the likelihood that the person would want to interact and share information with me. Especially, when it came to the student or the co-worker having to engage in an action that was out of their comfort zone.

For students in an evaluation, that would include them attempting tasks that were difficult for them. They would even share that they attempted the difficult task because they felt comfortable enough to do so in front of me. 

While for coworkers, that would include them having to change a habit or them trying something new. But if it wasn’t for the rapport that I spent time building with them, I don’t think that my outcomes would have been so positive.

So as a Business Coach and Consultant, I am continuing to build rapport when I interact with prospective clients, current clients, members in my network, and even with vendors. I find rapport building to be so important that it is incorporated in one of the four core values in my company, Priscilla Kucer Consulting Solutions LLC. Specifically, our collaboration and connecting value.

At the beginning, I mentioned a quote from Tony Robbins. That quote was: 

"rapport is the ultimate tool for producing results with other people."

But there’s more to that quote.

Tony Robbins went on to say that:

“No matter what you want in your life, if you can develop rapport with the right people, you’ll be able to fulfill their needs, and they will be able to fill yours.”

So think about that for a minute…..

Let's read that over one more time to help with your thinking. "No matter what you want in your life, if you can develop rapport with the right people, you’ll be able to fulfill their needs, and they will be able to fill yours.”

As a business owner offering a solution to solve a specific problem that your target audience has, is this not the result you want for them and for you?

I would say, "YES!"

So are you starting to see how building rapport with others is important for your business?

I hope you are.

 What is Rapport?

Mind Tools define rapport as “ the basis of meaningful, close and harmonious relationships between people.”

Skills You Need described building rapport is like making an emotional connection with someone else.

Rapport is about building those connections with others you are liking you and want to trust you.

Remember the know, like, and trust factors that you’ve heard about that needs to be present for other people to do business with you?

Well, building rapport can help you get to that trust part.

When you are building rapport, there are some researchers who found that it allows for mutual attentiveness and coordination. I believe that coordination is what is needed for the collaboration to occur, especially in my business as a coach and consultant to business owners.

When you build rapport, you are building success!

Tips for Building Rapport

Here are some tips to help you when you are building rapport with others:

1. Use their name. If you’re not sure how to say their name, ask the person.

2. Use the appropriate pronoun. Again ask the person, if you are not sure.

3. Be culturally appropriate in your interactions both verbal and non-verbal

4. Actively listen to what the person is saying to you

5. Relax

6. Be genuine. Share something unique or ask the other person a question to find out something unique about them

7. Find something that is common to both of you

When you follow these tips, you will be better able to collaborate with team members, vendors, and peer advisory board members to solve problems, develop solutions, and take appropriate actions.

Plus, if you use these tips with prospective clients, you might gain a new client too!

By the way, HubSpot found that 80% of customers will pay more for a guaranteed good experience. Just something for you to think about.

So go out there and make your rapport building interaction a positive and meaningful one!

If you are ready to get help with your rapport building and growing your business, submit your coaching application and see if you qualify for a customized coaching program to meet your specific needs. 

Thank you for taking the time to read my article. 

Regards, 

Dr. Priscilla "Dr. P" Kucer

Solutions+Actions=Results! (SoAR!)