{"id":26351,"date":"2021-07-28T13:21:26","date_gmt":"2021-07-28T21:21:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coachestrainingblog.com\/becomeacoach\/?p=26351"},"modified":"2021-07-28T13:21:28","modified_gmt":"2021-07-28T21:21:28","slug":"16-rapport-building-tools-for-coaches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coachestrainingblog.com\/becomeacoach\/16-rapport-building-tools-for-coaches\/","title":{"rendered":"16 Rapport Building Tools for Coaches"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

How do you get a complete stranger<\/span> to confide in you during a discovery session?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of my first discovery sessions was with an older man in failing health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We didn\u2019t have much in common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I still managed to create massive rapport with him<\/span>\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

…which was essential to engage him in deep coaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He shared his dreams and his challenges\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

…his deepest fears of inadequacy\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

…and by the end of the call, he was sobbing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rapport we developed was essential for that coaching session.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The result?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He enrolled in my year-long coaching program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then he worked with me for a second year\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The few thousand dollars he spent with me turned into tens of thousands.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The few thousand dollars he spent with me turned into tens of thousands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But more importantly\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

…he developed the strength to overcome the adversities that were keeping him from achieving his goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the time your clients were 18 months old\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

…they were taught not to trust strangers<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Trust<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You might have amazing coaching skills, and powerful questions to ask…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But unless you have rapport<\/span>\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

…people will never notice<\/span> your deep coaching wisdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

…and you definitely won\u2019t change your client\u2019s life in a single discovery session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the way…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That client didn\u2019t enroll with me immediately.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It wasn\u2019t until 6 months after his discovery session<\/span> that he finally signed up for coaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most coaches expect that if you don\u2019t enroll someone immediately<\/span> after a free session, they\u2019ll never enroll with you<\/span>\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

…and, statistically, that\u2019s true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But not with him\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6 months after his free session, why didn\u2019t he just forget about coaching?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because he remembered our session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That session already guided him to make changes in his life<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That session was unforgettable for him.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That session already guided him to make changes in his life<\/span>.<\/p>

That session was unforgettable for him.<\/strong>“<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because we connected<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My client knew that I deeply cared<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And so he trusted me<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is rapport.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use these rapport-building tools in your coaching (especially in discovery sessions)…<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
  1. Smile<\/strong>. People can tell you\u2019re smiling even on the phone.<\/li>
  2. Be on time…<\/strong> especially for the first meeting. Clients can take it personally if you\u2019re unprepared, or late.<\/li>
  3. Vigilantly watch your own judgment.<\/strong> As soon as your client feels judged by you<\/span>, it\u2019s an instant rapport breaker. Accept your client wherever they are.<\/li>
  4. Match your client\u2019s voice quality.<\/strong> It causes a subtle comfort and rapport (don\u2019t overdo this or it gets obnoxious). This includes volume, tone, pace, etc.<\/li>
  5. Tap into hot button words<\/strong> that have intense meaning or emotion for your clients. Use those words to deepen connection and rapport.<\/li>
  6. Don\u2019t make the coaching session about you.<\/strong> Don\u2019t tell your life story. Don\u2019t try to get your client to \u2018be like you\u2019. Don\u2019t invest your self-esteem in the session\u2019s outcome. You\u2019re likely breaking rapport.<\/li>
  7. Have positive regard for your client.<\/strong> See your client as a unique soul that you care about unconditionally<\/span>, and truly want to help.<\/li>
  8. Contribute to your client without expectations<\/strong> of getting anything in return. If the coaching relationship is purely transactional, you\u2019ll likely lose rapport. If you wouldn\u2019t coach this client for free, don\u2019t coach them at all<\/span>.<\/li>
  9. Get over your nerves or anxiety prior to sessions<\/strong>. Any nerves will act as a barrier between you and your client (or be awkward at best). The best way to avoid feeling nervous is to focus on serving your client<\/span>.<\/li>
  10. You can create instant trust with your client as soon as you find common interests<\/span><\/strong>. This could include beliefs, hobbies or experiences. The primary common interest you should have with your client IS YOUR CLIENT<\/span>.<\/li>
  11. Be genuinely curious to learn about your client.<\/strong> Ask questions to gain understanding about what your client is telling you. This shows them you care.<\/li>
  12. Be careful with over-giving advice<\/strong>, especially when your client isn\u2019t that interested. (HINT: Your client is less interested in your advice<\/span> than you think.)<\/li>
  13. Acknowledge, support and cheerlead your client<\/strong> at every opportunity. Almost all your clients will love this, as most of them are starved for a simple pat on the back<\/span>.<\/li>
  14. Show your client you know who they are<\/strong> by telling them what you understand about them. Let them verify or correct you if needed. When you can describe your client better than they can<\/span>, they will automatically assume you can help them<\/span>.<\/li>
  15. Restate what your client says<\/strong> to show that you hear them.<\/li>
  16. Be 100% PRESENT with your client during the session<\/strong>. If you\u2019re muting them, arguing with your kids in the background, driving, eating, or otherwise distracted, you\u2019re showing that client how unimportant they are to you<\/span>.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \"How<\/a><\/figure>
    \n

    (NOTE: If you\u2019ve been waiting to start your coaching business, or were wondering if you can do it profitably, then you need to watch this video<\/a><\/strong>. In the video, I\u2019ll explain how to How to Build a Profitable Coaching Business in 30 Days<\/a><\/strong>. Click HERE now<\/a><\/strong> to watch the video<\/a><\/strong>.)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Special techniques to build rapport in face to face or video sessions:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n