Here's how you can build rapport with your clients using active listening techniques.

Many times when we're listening to people, we begin to form arguments in our mind as to why we agree or disagree with their position. Try to listen without such judgement and seek to understand their concern from where they're stood.

Building strong relationships with clients starts with effective communication. Active listening is key – truly hear what they're saying, not just waiting for your turn to speak. Paraphrasing their points back to them ensures you're on the same page and shows you're genuinely invested. Beyond direct conversations, leverage technology to understand your clients even better. Use data and analytics to learn about their preferences, behaviors, and needs. This allows you to make more informed decisions about how you serve them. AI is rapidly changing the game. Get ahead of the curve and use its power for research and insights. Understand your customers' needs before you even start tailoring your service to them.

Empathy is essential because it fosters connection, understanding, and compassion in relationships. It enables effective communication, reduces conflicts, and builds trust. By understanding others' perspectives and emotions, empathy promotes cooperation and supportive environments, enhancing both personal and professional interactions.

Depth of any professional or personal relationship depends on our ability to relate (i.e. affective & cognitive #empathy) & our intent to act/contribute to the progress & well being of the other person(i.e. #compassion as felt by the other person). 1: With #empathy & #compassion our patience & attention improves, hence our listening improves. 2: With #empathy & #compassion, hence our connections emerge & exchanges become meaningful. We contribute to others & they reciprocate(hopefully) 3: With #empathy & #compassion relationship strength & longevity effortlessly emerge; don't have to be effortfully built. So to built rapport, bring #empathy and #compassion to the table. Train and coach for this, even if you think you have them.

In order to truly connect with your clients, it is essential to understand their perspective before responding. Active listening is a critical skill in this process. Active listening requires giving your full attention to the client. This means being present in the moment, avoiding distractions, and focusing entirely on what the client is saying. Techniques such as maintaining eye contact, nodding, and using verbal affirmations like "yes," "I see," or "go on" can signal to the client that you are engaged and interested in their words.

In order to prove to the customer you are genuinely trying to help resolve an issue, emphasize whatever the customer is saying and is related or you think might be the cause of a customer being upset. Pause and understand that the person across is in a hijack state of mind and give space and time for them to vent, not taking it personally.

Essas etapas destacam a importancia da escuta ativa e da empatia no processo de constru??o de relacionamentos com os clientes. Entenda primeiro Antes de responder, esforce-se para entender a perspectiva do cliente. Pratique a escuta ativa, dando toda a sua aten??o e reconhecendo os sentimentos do cliente. Evite julgamentos precipitados ou conselhos rápidos, priorizando a compreens?o para estabelecer confian?a. Reflita as emo??es: Reconhe?a e valide as emo??es expressadas pelo cliente ao compartilhar desafios ou sucessos. Demonstre empatia ao nomear as emo??es envolvidas, mesmo que você n?o se sinta da mesma forma. Essa prática aprofunda a conex?o e proporciona conforto ao cliente, mostrando que suas experiências s?o valorizadas.

El ejercicio de preguntar resulta esencial en la escucha activa de clientes. Junto con ello, hay que repetir el ciclo: 1) Preguntar; 2) Guardar silencio; 3) Escuchar; cuantas veces sea necesario. Ahondar sobre aquellos aspectos que para el cliente parecen importantes. Es parte del proceso de generar confianza y entender para luego ser entendido.

Asking questions show you are listening, you are following and you are engaged. It is also a way to help the person you are speaking with to arrive at decisions and not be forced down a path. If you question people in a polite way, you get them to think more, know you are paying attention and that you are ready to assist as needed. We have 2 ears and one mouth for a reason!

After the customer vented and expressed what they needed from us or set their expectations in a resolution of their current problem, it is our turn to ask OPEN questions and thorough ones. The trick is, at this phase of conversation you might lose it, already feel exhausted and drained, but asking those questions with attention is the only way we can justify our initial intentions and bring the solution. So questions which request further explanations and customers talking more than us, is a win-win.

As an executive coach, I know my clients are dealing with complex issues. By restating what they share in my own words, I build trust and inspire confidence by helping them feel seen. In their mind, they are alone with their problem, and when you make them feel seen, it's like entering the room they're dwelling in. This simple but powerful technique keeps our sessions focused and productive.

Offering a brief summary of what I heard can help my client and I align on where we are at the current moment given any specific topic/ scenario. I call this my "4-way stop". It is a brief pause and scan of our surroundings. If we are both clear on where we are, we are better prepared to decide "now what?". We often have tough challenges to tackle. Better listening builds better trust and trust is a key ingredient in tackling the challenges ahead. Bottom line: shared active listening is key to productive conversations that promote success next.

Paraphrasing is inevitable step in the LEAP technique. It is the moment when it would be most desirable to repeat in our own words everything the customer mentioned to us and ask if we understood completely. The steps are repeated as long as we don't come to the same conclusion of the issue.

To show that we are not just random robots behind the smiling facade, a plus would be to continue the conversation with the customer after some time and if permitted, to share our own experience if applicable, and to give a genuine advice for the future references.

Feedback is a vital step to becoming a trusted advisor and building rapport with your clients; make sure they are ready for the feedback. Some clients want to vent and through the venting process they will either solve their own problem or they are not looking for a solution or feedback. Making sure to pause and ensure each party is in a space where they can receive feedback is a critical step in making sure the feedback will land well.

Individuals with higher education levels tend to have a better understanding of the importance of preventive care. This understanding translates into more proactive health behaviors, such as scheduling regular doctor visits, adhering to vaccination schedules, and participating in recommended screenings. Higher education often equips individuals with the knowledge to navigate the healthcare system more effectively, enabling them to seek and utilize preventive services efficiently.

Presence is a key factor in active listening. To read between the lines, to listen to the unsaid, to notice energy shifts, to read body language, to sense the under currents, one needs presence. It's also about not only listening from the head, but the heart and the gut too. Besides the act of being present, the coach needs to quieten their own mental chatter. Also, let go of their own mental models as much as possible. Then it becomes easier to listen, in the silence.

Taking notes demonstrates genuine engagement and interest in the client's thoughts and experiences. It shows that you are fully present, actively listening, and valuing their perspectives. After each session, you can review your notes, identify key insights, and explore areas that may require further exploration or clarification. This practice allows you to stay connected with the client's journey, even between sessions, and ensures that you are well-prepared for future conversations. Note-taking also provides a tangible tool for facilitating the client's thought process. If they encounter a moment of struggle or uncertainty, you can visually represent their thoughts through diagrams, mind maps, or written prompts.

Be interested. Care. If you are interested in people, what makes them tick, then you will build rapport. Just be careful with “using techniques”. They can be fake. And people hate fake.