Here's how you can build trust and rapport with your team using active listening techniques.

To build trust and rapport with your team through active listening, focus on giving them your undivided attention during conversations. Avoid interrupting, and show interest with gestures like nodding and maintaining eye contact. Repeat or summarize what they’ve said to confirm understanding and show you value their input. Ask open-ended questions to encourage deeper discussion and clarify points. Respond thoughtfully, acknowledging their viewpoints and offering constructive feedback. This helps create open communication and makes team members feel valued, ultimately strengthening trust and connection.

Building trust and rapport with your team through active listening requires: Fully Engage: Concentrate on the speaker without interruptions, demonstrating that their contribution is important. Reflect: Rephrase their thoughts to ensure comprehension and verify their viewpoint. Ask open-ended questions. Encourage deeper discourse and express genuine interest in their thoughts. Recognise and empathise with their sentiments to foster a stronger emotional bond.

Give the speaker your undivided attention. Maintain eye contact, avoid distractions like checking your phone, and let them finish their thoughts without interrupting. Listening intently shows respect and makes the speaker feel valued. Ask clarifying questions if you're unsure about something they said, but avoid jumping to conclusions or formulating your response while they're still speaking.

After the speaker has finished, paraphrase what you heard in your own words to confirm your understanding. Say something like "Let me make sure I understand correctly..." and summarize the key points. This gives the speaker a chance to clarify anything you may have misunderstood. Reflecting back demonstrates active listening and increases the likelihood of effective communication.

Put yourself in the speaker's shoes and consider their perspective and emotions. Use statements that validate their feelings, such as "I can see why you felt frustrated by that situation." Avoid judgmental language and show that you understand where they are coming from, even if you don't agree with their point of view. Empathy builds trust and rapport by making the speaker feel heard and understood.

Ask open-ended questions that invite the speaker to share more details and expand on their thoughts and feelings. Avoid yes/no questions that can shut down the conversation. Use prompts like "Can you tell me more about..." or "Help me understand your perspective on..." to draw out additional information and show your genuine interest in what they have to say.