Running Head: Rapport Building

Rapport Building

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Rapport Building in Presentations

Several strategies make a person's presentation effective and exciting. The most

important is to ensure one has the audience's attention and hold fast to it. Rapport building is the

process of forming and understanding a harmonious bond between a speaker and their audience.

When rapport is present, the conversation flows smoothly, and the message gets relayed

effectively. At times, the audience's body language changes, communicating that their attention

is lost. The audience starts fidgeting on their seats, some start yawning, and some move their

attention to their phones. Whenever such scenarios happen, the speaker needs to find ways to get

their attention back.

The speaker has to be creative, as it is a crucial skill in delivering effective

communication. Everyone has a slightly different manner of perceiving things. It is, therefore,

necessary to paint vivid images in the minds of the audience to make situations more relatable.

Humor is an underrated quality in a speaker often credited for the majority of successful

presentations. Employing humorous stories every once in a while keeps the audience entertained

while ensuring their attention gets retained. Humor especially helps to lower the tension in the

arena. Moreover, the speaker needs to share some of his/her personal experiences (Kaski et

al.,2018) It shows that they are ready to be open and intimate, making them seem more receptive.

The speaker needs to make sure that (s) he is in the moment. They need to let go of any

personal worries or attachment. Giving impressions such as continually checking or receiving

phone calls during presentations will only divert the attention of the audience further. Therefore,

the same energy can get expected of them. Thus, the speaker's mind should be straight. From

experience, a speaker who employs regular pauses in their presentations is likely to maintain

rapport easily as the audience gets reunited in the tension of waiting.

Rapport Building in Presentations

Speakers should employ voice intonations and gestures appropriately to emphasize their

points clearly. Their confidence is vital since the audience's energy wholly depends on their

collectedness.

References

Kaski, T., Niemi, J., & Pullins, E. (2018). Rapport building in an an authentic B2B sales
interaction. Industrial Marketing Management, 69, 235-252.