Mirroring
The secret to building rapport with people again is mirroring their type and style of communication. Mirroring means getting into rhythm with the person on as many levels as possible.
Emotional Mirroring
This is empathizing with someone’s emotional state by being on ‘their side’. You must apply the skill of being a good listener in this situation so as you can listen for key words and problems that arise when speaking with the person. This is so you can talk about these issues and question them to better your understanding of what they are saying and show your empathy towards them.
Posture Mirroring
Also referred to as ‘matching’, this may refer to the tone of a person’s body language not through direct imitation, as this can appear as mockery, but through mirroring the general message of their posture and energy.
Tone and Tempo Mirroring
In this case, it’s all about matching the tone, tempo, inflection, and volume of a person’s voice.
Reciprocity
Giving gifts or doing favors without asking for something in return. This triggers feelings of obligation is a powerful rapport building technique used frequently in business circles. “Paying it forward’ is now seen as an important part of showing you care for others in your support networks.
Commonality
Commonality is the technique of deliberately finding something in common with a person or a customer in order to build a sense of camaraderie and trust. This is done through shared interests, dislikes, and situations. It can also be looked at in view of the personality types or behavioural styles.