“To be an effective leader, you need to have credibility.  To be credible, you need to be trusted.  To develop trust, you need to build rapport.” – Michael Corley.  (I just made this up, and it sounds good, so I am going to quote myself.)

Here is how you, the leader, builds rapport with your team members.

In person (at the office, at a client meeting, etc.):
  • Make eye contact with people when you walk around (in other words, don’t look down).
  • Proactively engage people in discussion when you see them.
  • Call each person by his/her name.  (Yes, you need to memorize names.)
  • Reference a previous discussion you have had with them, so they know you listened in the past and care.
  • Ask questions and listen. (Show you are listening by eye contact, nodding, smiling).
  • Smile.
How about on a conference call? (Yes it is possible to do so):
  • Acknowledge each participant by name (maybe when calling roll?).
  • Ask questions during “small talk time”.
  • Use voice inflection..and laugh (smile with your voice).
  • State their name when emphasizing a point (ex. good point, Michael, let’s do this…)
  • Depending on the situation, follow up with an email afterward to confirm you were listening and to give appreciation for their input.
In staff meetings:
  • Acknowledge everyone around the table, by name. (There’s that “name thing” again.)
  • Ask meaningful questions and be sure to ask for input from all those attending.
  • Take notes, which is a visible way to depict you are listening.
  • Smile. (Never underestimate the power of a smile to put people at ease and to build rapport.)
With your Board of Directors/Trustees:
Not everyone reports to a Board, but everyone does report to someone.  This applies to you as as well:
  • Communication – keep them abreast of key initiatives and projects. Send regularly scheduled updates via email.  Brief, bullet pointed.  (Make it easy to read, and to write.)
  • Communication – Meet with your Board Members/Trustees individually throughout the course of the year.  Some you will need to meet with more frequently than others.
  • Communication – Reach out between meetings via telephone. These can be quick phone calls to provide an update, ask for input, etc.
  • Board Meetings – Do not underestimate this opportunity to show you are in command of the organization, and you are deserving of the Board’s/Trustees’ trust and support.  (I will refrain from venting here about the number of Board meetings I have attended which have resulted in the opposite for the CEO!). Building rapport via a Board meeting is quite simple, although it does take some time and effort.  Brief suggestions:
    • Work with the Board Chair and Committee Chairs to prepare the agenda (critical updates and strategic discussion topics only!)
    • Create a packet of information which is intended to brief the Board members about activities and prepare them for the strategic discussions to occur at the Board meeting
    • Send an informational packet out 1-week in advance
    • Make sure the Board Chair, assuming she/he is running the meeting, is prepared to run the meeting.  Practice if necessary.  Provide a Run-of-Show to him/her if necessary.  (Your job is to make the Chair look good.)
    • At the meeting, arrive first and welcome the Board members/Trustees as they arrive.
    • After the meeting, shake hands with each Board member as he/she leaves.
Building rapport can, or will, “make or break” the effectiveness of your leadership.  So “Go Forth and Build Rapport!”