First Published in PERSONAL SUCCESS Magazine - February 1994
RAPPORT - The Magic Ingredient - Part 2"
Penny Tompkins and James Lawley
"You don't want customers...you want RAVING FANS!!!"
Anthony Robbins
One of our students at City University had been trying to change jobs for
a few years. After learning some basic rapport skills such as mirroring
and matching, and using these at interviews, he was at last successful
in landing a brilliant position in The City. In practising her rapport
skills in interview situations, another student has become a television
presenter.
Anthony Robbins is a master of rapport's matching and mirroring skills.
These skills have become so natural he does not even need to think about
'doing' them. They are automatic. And I believe he used these
exact skills in his two-hour audience with Princess Diana on his recent
visit to England!
"Personal Success" readers are also taking advantage of NLP tips and exercises
and learning new and powerful communication skills, and are changing their
lives for the better as a result.
What about you? Are you ready to try something new and make those
changes now?
MIRRORING
In last month's issue, Rapport - The Magic Ingediant
- Part 1, we introduced mirroring. Mirroring is physically 'copying'
the behaviour of another person, as if reflecting their movements back
to them. This is done with respect and subtlety. At an unconscious
level the person with whom you are communicating in this way feels acknowledged
and appreciates your interest in them. You are pacing that person's
experience, and although they may be unaware of your mirroring, it will
still have a profound effect.
Mirroring done with integrity and respect creates positive feelings and
responses in you and others. Otherwise, mirroring becomes mimicry
and has negative consequences. So as you learn the following additional
rapport skills, remember the powerful effect you create must be based on
honourable values and principles.
MATCHING
One basic difference between mirroring and matching is timing. While
mirroring is simultaneous with the other person's movements, matching can
sometimes have a 'time delay' factor to it. For example, if someone is
gesturing while talking and making a point, you can be still and attending.
When it is your turn to speak, you can make your comments and your point
using the same, or similar gestures.
There are other types of matching:
CROSS-OVER MATCHING is choosing to match one of your behaviours
to a corresponding, but different movement of another.
For example, if a person is blinking rapidly, you may cross-over match
by discreetly tapping your finger at the same rate as they are blinking;
or pace the rhythm of someone's speaking with slight nods of your head
or your breathing.
MISMATCHING is also a useful skill to master. Have you ever
had someone go on and on and on when having a conversation with them...when
you wonder if they will ever stop talking?
You can break eye contact, turn your body at an angle to them, breathe
faster or slower in contrast to their breathing...in short, do anything
to break rapport by mismatching. You will be surprised how quickly
and easily the conversation will draw to a close.
You will find you hear and observe other people in more detail as you learn
these basic rapport skills. Paying attention to others in this way
is a process of building trust, and the more elegantly you mirror, match
and cross-over match, the more your customers will turn into "raving fans."
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE
When speaking to family members or business colleagues, find a specific
behaviour or movement to focus on and match or cross-over match.
You might select one behaviour per day to practice until you can build
a whole repertoire of rapport skills.
You might:
Use your hand movement to pace another persons breathing.
Move your foot to pace another person's head movements.
Tilt your shoulders slightly as the other person tilts their head.
Lift a finger as the other person lifts an eye-brow.
And feel free to create your own cross-over matching techniques! Also remember
to practice mismatching, but be sure to end the interaction in a state
of rapport.
COMPULSIVE MATCHING AND MIRRORING
Some people feel they just have to match and mirror.
A young woman who matched and mirrored constantly was sitting across from
a colleague who was tired of being mimicked. The colleague slid down
in his chair, and of course she did the same. Then the colleague
slid down even farther. She did the same. Finally, one slide
too many, and the woman literally fell on the floor! Her colleague,
conscious of his mirroring, remained in his chair.
RAPPORT
Notice the difference these rapport skills will have in your life.
Whether the context is flirting, interviewing, selling, or being granted
an audience with a princess, you can make the choice to improve your communication
skills using NLP. Next month we introduce you to "I
See, Hear and Feel What You Mean: Representational Systems."
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Penny Tompkins & James Lawley
 Penny and James are supervising neurolinguistic psychotherapists – first registered with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy in 1993 – coaches in business, certified NLP trainers, and founders of The Developing Company.
They have provided
consultancy to organisations as diverse as GlaxoSmithKline, Yale
University Child Study Center, NASA Goddard Space Center and the
Findhorn Spiritual Community in Northern Scotland.
Their book, Metaphors in Mind was the first comprehensive guide to Symbolic Modelling using the Clean Language of David Grove. An annotated training DVD, A Strange and Strong Sensation demonstrates their work in a live session. James has also written (with Marian Way) the first book dedicated to Clean Space: Insights in Space. Between them Penny and James have published over 200 articles and blogs freely available on their website: cleanlanguage.co.uk.
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