Page 110 - EAMMV9covers

EARTH ANGELS & MAGIC MOMENTS
and more seasoned at connecting with other people—
but there’
s no reason you can’t assume rapport at any
age.
As infants we are great at assuming rapport. But
then, somewhere between toddlerhood and childhood,
we somehow manage to become intimidated by others
for a few decades. Then thirty or forty years later, the
lucky ones revert back to the open, friendly innocence
of childhood.
Assuming rapport is a subtle, less-intrusive way to
connect with a person you’re interested in. It’s less
emotionally risky than the direct approach because it
doesn’t require any kind of introduction and outright
request. You simply turn up, note something
interesting that’s going on at that moment, and begin
your conversation in the middle.
How to Assume Rapport
Any of the following types of statements, questions,
or compliments will do to get you started:
•An open question (i.e. one that can’t be answered
by a simple yes or no), such as “So, what have you
heard about this movie?”
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