Rapport is the foundation of effective communication and NLP can help you to build this sense of connection with your clients. NLP emphasises the importance of mirroring and matching the body language, tone of voice, and language patterns of the person you’re communicating with, allowing you to align your behaviour with theirs, and create that bond that you need to get them fully on board with you. Before you think this will feel contrived and weird – you are just creating what happens naturally over time. Think about being at dinner with a close friend – you take a drink at the same time, posture will be similar and you might even say the same things at the same time. You naturally match when in rapport.
NLP skills will help you to pay more attention to non-verbal cues by looking at body language, facial expressions, and other non-verbal cues to better understand the emotions and intentions behind the words.
NLP can help you to use sensory-rich language to make communication more vivid and engaging. Using visual, auditory, and kinesthetic words in your conversations will create a more immersive experience and can help the listener better understand and relate to your message. E.g. I see what you’re saying, I hear what you’re saying or I understand and feel the same.
Give prospects, clients and people the attention they need
You’ll be a more active listener, giving your full attention to the speaker, maintaining eye contact, and demonstrating a genuine interest in what they are saying. You’ll be able to summarise to show that you understand their perspective and therefore help to build their trust in you.
It’ll also allow you to be more mindful of the words you choose and to take the time to clarify things when necessary, to make sure there is a mutual understanding between you. Vague and ambiguous language can lead to miscommunication and misunderstandings so it’s important to really think about what you’re saying and how. Clarity is everything in business!
Remember that effective communication is a skill that takes practice and continuous improvement but NLP can provide the valuable tools and techniques you need to make it easier. If you’d like to understand how NLP can work for you as a new career, or in the one you’ve got, book a call for a 30-minute demonstration. It’s free.