This past weekend taught me a very valuable lesson about how absolutely critical rapport is in a relationship. Without rapport there really is no relationship.

Think about it. If you don't feel a connection to someone on some level, does anything they say have any impact on you? Isn't the opposite true? Won't you be more likely to discount most of the things that person says or does?

It was an amazing lesson to watch unfold. Especially since I wasn't the only one involved who was having these feelings. Hearing what other people thought about interacting with this person whom we had no rapport with was incredibly reinforcing.

Lesson learned: You MUST have rapport BEFORE you can have any type of positive relationship.

Rapport becomes critically important especially in a sales situation. If you've not connected with your prospect it would be nearly impossible to close the sale. Same goes for a networking relationship. You're never going to get referrals or assistance from someone who doesn't feel some level of connection with you.

The good news is; building rapport is easy, especially with awareness and practice. We build rapport through finding connections and associating with the other person. This may be through similar interests, history, desires, beliefs, or experiences. It can also take the form of a physical connection. This can be done through the process of matching and mirroring. (more on matching and mirroring in a future blog post)

Whatever form the connection takes doesn't matter. As long as it's there. Without it the relationship will NOT move forward.

Build rapport, connect, and start a relationship. That's what networking is all about. In fact, it's where every relationship starts.

Happy networking!

Scott Ingram
NetworkInAustin.com