The importance of building rapport in a coaching relationship

Coaching is a relationship between two people, the coach and you – the client. The greater the mutual respect, cooperation, trust and transparency, the more successful the coaching relationship will be.

Rapport is an extremely special ingredient in this coaching relationship. The coach needs to have ability create an atmosphere of trust during the coaching sessions. Rapport is like an active ingredient – it is the foundation of what makes the coaching relationship work.

If a coach has any doubt about the ability of you, the client to make the changes you desire then the coach may be better off terminating the coaching relationship.

What is Rapport?

What is the definition of rapport? Let’s start with what it is not – rapport is not about the coach getting you to like him or her! A definition of rapport on wikipedia is “A feeling of harmonious connection between people or groups of people” Building rapport during coaching is not the same as becoming emotionally involved with the client’s goal or personal life.

A coach should always maintain a professional distance as this is important in remaining objective and constructive. The greater the rapport between you and your the coach the faster the results will be.

Less rapport will makes the coaching less effective. Developing a sense off rapport enhances a sense of sharing between you and your coach. To foster this bond of rapport may mean that more time is spent by the coach and you up front which will lead to less effort later to produce results.

Rapport and NLP Rapport is also covered in NLP training as rapport is usually an unconscious action that can be modelled and learnt, which can then be used to facilitate and enhance, not only coaching relationships, but interactions between you and anyone else.