Making a Bigger Impact on Your Relationships at Work as a New Leader

Why would you want to know about this?

As a new or emerging leader, understanding and defining your leadership essence or style is fundamental for building strong relationships with your team and others. People have to have a good understanding of who you are as their leader and what to expect with your interactions with them. That is where rapport comes in. Establishing rapport is the cornerstone of effective leadership in any industry because trust and communication are the foundation of what you accomplish and the leader you become. According to the NLP principles I’ve been trained in, resistance from your team often signals a lack of rapport. These signals are the building blocks of strong relationships…or weak ones.

So what exactly is Leadership Essence and Rapport?

Leadership essence refers to the core values, behaviors, and skills that define you as a leader. It’s the unique combination of qualities that makes your leadership style effective and authentic. It’s what your team sees outwardly, and senses inwardly because rapport is about creating a sense of connection and trust with others. When rapport is established, communication flows smoothly, and resistance diminishes. Wherever teamwork and client relationships are vital, mastering rapport can significantly enhance your leadership impact. I would say just about anywhere.

Who Needs to Hear This?

Yes, everyone, but it is especially important for new and emerging leaders. For example, consider Sarah, a newly promoted team leader at one of my leadership development workshops. Sarah works at a community bank and in her conversation with me, she struggled with getting her team to buy into new strategies, and was facing a lot of resistance. Sarah’s personality was very analytical and risk assessment was by far her gift. People skills and relationship building, not so much. But by making a subtle tweak and customizing some techniques to focus on building rapport, Sarah started having more success in finding common ground. That small tweak had a big impact because her team began to trust her more, and relationships started to improve. That’s the power of rapport.

How do you incorporate Rapport-Building into your leadership?

1. Understand and Acknowledge Resistance: When faced with resistance, don’t dismiss it. View it as feedback indicating a lack of rapport. This shift in perspective can help you address underlying issues more effectively.
2. Find Common Ground: Engage with your team members to discover shared interests and goals. This creates a foundation for mutual understanding and trust.
3. Active Listening: Practice active listening by paying full attention to your team’s concerns and feedback. Reflect their words and emotions to show understanding and empathy.
4. Adapt Your Communication Style: Tailor your communication to match the preferences and styles of your team members. This can make your messages more relatable and easier to accept.
5. Be Genuine and Transparent: Authenticity fosters trust. Be open about your intentions and decisions, and encourage your team to do the same.
6. Regular Check-Ins: Schedule regular one-on-one meetings to maintain open lines of communication and reinforce your connection with each team member.

What can you do now?

Start building rapport with your team today! Within the next 48 hours, pick one of the tools from above and put it into action. Try it for 30 days and see what happens. Oh, and I’d love to hear about it too!

For more leadership tools or to explore my speaking and consulting offerings related to Impact-Driven Leadership, visit www.DebbiePetersonSpeaks.com. Let’s work together to create a leadership approach that makes a bigger impact for you and your organization!