Rapport
Rapport is a harmonious and close relationship where the various entities involved are "at peace" with each other and able to communicate easily with one another. Rapport between people requires that the parties involved understand and can "put their cards on the table" so to speak and deal with problems and concerns with clarity and ease. A good example of this would be during a time of war where coordination of forces, communication between the different locations and the enemy's tactics and techniques as well as the weather and terrain must all be carefully considered. The military would also consider logistics when planning for a combat mission. In the case of a manufacturing plant it would include both management issues and supply chain management.
It is the goal of all organizations, whether they are government agencies or businesses to develop good relationships with the clients they service and to build good Rapport. There are many ways to build good Rapport between you and your clients. When working with new clients we do our best to build positive Rapport. One way to build Rapport in a client/ supplier relationship is to always have an open and clear mind and a clear view of the situation at hand. When working with suppliers remember that their needs may not always be the same as yours, depending on the nature of the products they sell, the size of the orders they receive, etc. So keep your mind as wide as possible and consider the needs of the other party and how your product or service can best help them.
Another way to build rapport with your clients and potential customers is to always listen to what they say, consider what they say and then respond in kind. If you repeatedly ask questions but they don't answer, consider what they said but said in a different way, this will help you put yourself in their shoes and know what they are thinking. Also when conversing with someone if you find they are speaking fast or using slang or colloquialisms make the effort to listen and then re-iterate, use the slower words when appropriate, repeat their name, etc. This will help build a positive rapport between you and your customer and over time this will allow you to create genuine relationships with most clients.
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