Connection Accelerants: how to rapidly build rapport for better outcomes at work.

When we join a new team or start working with a new client, we don’t always have the luxury of time to get to know them before we’re thrown into the depths of a project.

Deep relationships take time to develop, but establishing a great connection can be accelerated through self-awareness and intentional practice. Quickly building rapport not only makes it easier to move ahead with work, but creates a more fulfilling and happy environment in which to get things done!

Connection Heroes build strong foundations by combining approaches like these.

1. Be curious. Use open questions to encourage people to share more with you – who, how, what, when, tell me more…. – these all require more than a one-word answer and give you opportunities to learn about one another.
2. Share a vulnerability. By opening up, you’re demonstrating trust and building an atmosphere of psychological safety. Imperfections are accepted as just part of who we are, and not having all the answers is an opportunity to learn.
3. Listen deeply. Then ask reflective follow-up questions related to a previous conversation or recollect small details to show that you have genuine interest in what your team or client has been talking about.
4. Celebrate people, generously, specifically and in the moment. Thanks is usually well received, but noticing and being really specific about someone’s impact elevates a thank you to a whole new level of feeling seen and valued.
5. Find a way to help. Anticipating someone’s needs or being unexpectedly thoughtful builds trust through action, and triggers reciprocity, where people tend to match one another’s behaviours.
6. Be consistent. Establishing regular patterns of communication or routines can help people around you to feel secure. This can be particularly helpful in remote teams using asynchronous communications where developing rituals such as a ‘Good Morning’ check-in can create structure for the day.
7. Match the energy – mirroring the communication style, energy and levels of disclosure of those around you automatically creates a bond through synchronised behaviour.
8. Have fun! Humour (used appropriately!) is a surefire way to open up conversations and put people at ease. Laughing also releases dopamine, which is known to enhance learning, motivation, and attention.

Exercise: Based on the work of Arthur Aron, the 36-Questions Session uses the practice of ‘reciprocal self-disclosure’ to accelerate personal connection.

Working in pairs, the questions prompt you to reveal increasingly personal information. Research suggests spending 45 minutes engaging in this kind of dialogue can dramatically increase feelings of connection.

Give it a go with your team and let us know how you get on!