From the course: Communication Foundations

Tool kit: Building rapport

From the course: Communication Foundations

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Tool kit: Building rapport

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- Let's begin with what I call neutral context drills. Next time you're at an airport, find someone nearby who you can share something in common. Maybe they have the same briefcase, or they're wearing the same team logo on their shirt, or the same watch. If appropriate. make eye contact and greet them, and comment about the item you have in common. Your goal is to use the common item to create rapport. If the person is responding positively, continue discussing the common item and then switch to some open-ended questions. For example, if you're sitting across from a person wearing your favorite team shirt, you can say, "You are also a fan? Did you watch the game last night?" See if you can maintain the conversation for two to three minutes. Now, practice this drill each time you travel, or you're in a similar social setting. Now, let's move to workplace context drills. Go to your next meeting committed to ignoring your phone, your tablet, and other electronics. Instead, tune into the people. Make a point to ask an open-ended question to the person on your right. Do this for three consecutive meetings. Keep the conversation light. Ask and encourage the other person to talk. Practice your open gestures, your stance, and your nonverbals. Practice your listening injections, those ahas, yeah. Stay attentive with your eyes. Finally, let's focus on drills you can use in other professional contexts. At the next professional conference or meeting you attend, find three people you haven't met before and try to connect with them. At first, comment on the environment, maybe the keynote speaker or a news piece related to your industry. Follow up with open-ended questions about them and their work. Practice repeating their names a few times, or ask them something specific about their name. Think of a visual or a verbal reminder to help you retain that name. After your conversation, make note in your contacts so you can follow up with them later. Being comfortable communicating in any social setting is not easy, but you will get better with practice. Use these drills to build your new communication habits that will help you in any setting, in and out of the workplace.

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