Building Rapport in Digital Communication

How I Build Rapport as a Program Manager at Amazon Influence doesn’t start with authority. It starts with rapport. When I first stepped into program management, I thought I needed to prove I was sharp, buttoned-up, execution-focused. And I am. But here’s what actually moves projects forward… What earns trust faster than perfect status docs or color-coded roadmaps: Human connection. Because people don’t prioritize your work if they don’t feel seen. And they definitely don’t escalate for you if they don’t trust you. Here’s how I build genuine rapport in a high-pressure, high-stakes environment: 1/ I learn how people work before I ask them to move ↳ Slack or email? Big picture or details? ↳ I don’t just drop asks…I show I respect how they operate 2/ I lead with curiosity, not control ↳ “Help me understand how this works on your side” ↳ Cross-functional work isn’t about owning everything ↳ It’s about learning enough to collaborate better 3/ I show up with value before I ask for anything ↳ I fix a doc. I unblock a dependency. I connect two teams. ↳ When people see you help first, they respond faster later 4/ I recognize people publicly and specifically ↳ “Shoutout to Jamie for flagging that risk before it turned into rework” ↳ Credit builds trust. And trust builds speed. 5/ I bring context to every ask ↳ Not “Can you take a look?” ↳ “We’re blocked on launch, and your input unblocks 3 other teams.” ↳ When people know why it matters, they care more You don’t need to be everyone’s best friend. But you do need to be someone people want to work with again. 📬 I write weekly about leadership through clarity, trust, and execution in The Weekly Sync: 👉 https://lnkd.in/e6qAwEFc What’s your best tactic for building fast, real rapport?

Drowning in Zoom calls and Slack threads? No energy left at the end of the day? 🥱 Zoom fatigue is real. So is information overload. It certainly happens to me. To understand science-backed strategies that get better results while preserving our energy, I invited Andrew Brodsky to Speak Like a CEO. Andrew is a management professor at the University of Texas at Austin, and the author of "Ping: The Secrets of Successful Virtual Communication". His PING framework is a simple, research-backed method to help you communicate smarter, not harder, in today’s virtual world. 📌 Perspective-taking 💡 Initiative 🎭 Nonverbal cues 🎯 Goals P = Perspective-taking Virtual communication makes it easy to forget there’s a human on the other side. Whether it’s a blunt email or a cold video call, always ask: How will this message feel to them? Clarity and empathy go further than you think. I = Initiative Don’t accept the weaknesses of a platform – fix them. Add warmth to text-based chats, build rapport before negotiations, or switch formats to better match your message. N = Nonverbal cues Your tone, lighting, posture, and even silence send signals. Be intentional. On video, your background, gestures and eye contact matter. G = Goals Start with the outcome. Want quick input? Use Slack. Need alignment? Meet live. Trying to build trust? Turn on the camera. Match the medium to your goal, not your habit. Our virtual communication has become a habit. Let’s challenge them and replace outdated routines with science-backed strategies. ❓ How do you ensure your message lands virtually?   ♻️ Repost to help someone improve their virtual communication. 📌 Follow me, Oliver Aust, for daily strategies on leadership communications.

My "Rule of Three" for Digital Communication I killed a €50,000 deal by sending an email when I should have called. The message was perfect.  The timing was right.  The price was agreed. But I chose the wrong medium. And that single choice killed months of relationship building. Here's the thing: HOW you communicate often matters more than WHAT you communicate. After years of closing (and losing) deals across cultures, I developed my "Rule of Three" for choosing the right communication channel: The Rule of Three: Match the medium to the moment 1. The Complexity Check If it takes more than 3 paragraphs to explain → Pick up the phone If there are 3+ decision-makers involved → Schedule a meeting If you need to clarify 3+ points → Don't email, call 2. The Cultural Context In Sweden: Email first, call later (respect their planning culture) In Bosnia: Call first, email for confirmation (relationships before documentation) With Americans: Text for speed, email for record With Germans: Everything in writing, even after calls 3. The Emotional Temperature Good news? Any medium works Bad news? NEVER email - always call or meet Confusion or misunderstanding? Video call beats 20 emails Negotiations? Face-to-face wins every time 📧 Email is best for: Documentation and follow-ups Non-urgent updates When time zones make calls impossible 📱 Calls are best for: Building rapport quickly Clarifying complex issues Delivering sensitive information 💬 Messages (WhatsApp/Slack) are best for: Quick confirmations Informal check-ins Time-sensitive but simple updates 🤝 Meetings are best for: Major decisions Relationship building Creative problem-solving Remember: The most perfectly crafted message fails if delivered through the wrong channel. What's your rule for choosing how to communicate? Have you ever lost an opportunity by picking the wrong medium?

Most assistants learned presence by being in the room. You built influence in corridors, credibility at your desk, and trust in the quiet moments between meetings. But now the room has moved online, and for many, presence has to be rebuilt from scratch. Let’s be honest, visibility was never easy for assistants. Hybrid and remote work have not made it impossible, but they have made it harder. They are forcing all of us to rethink what presence, influence and connection really mean. Now, presence has to be intentional rather than incidental. Here is what that looks like today: ✨ Presence is about energy, not geography. It is how you show up: in your tone, your calm under pressure, your clarity of communication. You do not have to be in the room to have presence; you just have to be felt. ✨ Visibility comes from communication, not proximity. If people cannot see you, they need to hear you. Over-communicate. Narrate your impact. Summarise outcomes. Share what has been achieved, not just what has been done. This is not self-promotion; it is professional transparency. ✨ Influence grows through trust, not noise. Be the person who makes others’ work easier. Anticipate. Connect dots. Keep momentum moving. Influence is earned every time someone realises they can depend on you. ✨ Relationships still matter; they are just built differently. Rapport used to happen by accident. Now it happens by design. Schedule short catch-ups, drop thoughtful messages, and create connection on purpose. ✨ Your digital footprint is your body language. Your written tone, your responsiveness and even your Teams status tell people who you are. Curate them consciously. ✨ And do not forget your morning prayers. A quick ten-minute check-in with your executive or core team builds rhythm, trust and visibility. Same time, every day. Three questions: 1️⃣ What matters most today? 2️⃣ Where are we blocked? 3️⃣ What do you need from me? It keeps priorities aligned and your impact front and centre. Stop worrying about being seen. Start focusing on being known. Known for your calm, your clarity, your reliability and the quality of your work. Because true presence is not about being in the room. It is about being remembered when you are not. 🔁 Repost to share 👉 Follow me, Lucy Brazier OBE, for daily insight and inspiration for the administrative profession.

Building rapport isn’t just asking what kind of dog someone has or where they went to college. It comes from showing expertise or empathy rooted in actual experience. Show them you’ve either sat in their seat and know exactly where the “squeaky leg” is —> “when I was in sales for 4 years, this is what I actually wanted to know in interviews…” Or that you’ve worked with enough people in their position to understand where things tend to break —> “one of my customers had zero visibility into employee spend… no business cards = no controls…” Rapport isn't built just by being friendly, but by showing you actually understand their world and care to help them navigate it.

Driving business on LinkedIn and with multiple channels isn't just about what you sell; it's about... ✅ Building genuine human connections and ✅ Providing what THEY think is valuable, not what we perceive as value When I first started using LinkedIn, I thought it was all about showcasing my skills and portfolio (I have some impressive content), but I quickly learned that people connect with people first. 🤝 It's really like old-fashioned dating, but for business. You have to get to know people, understand their world, and find ways to genuinely support them. Applying systems thinking to this kind of "dating" approach has been monumental for my business. ✨ Here's the breakdown of what that looks like in practice: ★ THE BUSINESS DATING FORMULA: 1⃣ Understand the "Dating Pool": Know whom you're trying to connect with. What are their challenges? What drives them? 2⃣ Pre-Date Research: Just like in real dating, do your homework. Look at their profile, their posts, and what they're talking about. Put in the effort. 3⃣ Value-First Conversations: Instead of jumping straight into a pitch, focus on genuine conversation. Ask thoughtful questions and, most importantly, listen more than you talk. Build trust. 4⃣ Offer Support (No strings attached): Find a way to help them, even in a small way, without expecting anything in return. This builds immense goodwill and positions you as a valuable resource. ✅ 5⃣ Build Rapport Over Time: Real connections aren't built in a single interaction. Nurture the relationship. Stay top-of-mind by consistently providing value and engaging in meaningful ways. My work isn't always strictly about business; sometimes it's about what's happening in my life. 🙆🏼 💁🏻♂️ 🙋🏻♀️ People want to know you're human, who's behind the scenes. For example, I'm a single father, I was in the US Army, and I've learned so much from family and good friends. These personal touches allow people to see if we share a similar moral structure and that we could connect on a deeper level. → That makes you more relatable and trustworthy. I always aim to be real, even if it's not always the popular choice. It's about authenticity and building relationships based on trust and mutual respect. This has also led to some incredible partnerships and friendships. If you're looking to enhance your LinkedIn strategy and build stronger relationships, consider how to apply these "dating" principles. It's about being intentional, providing value, and fostering genuine connections. It's a reminder that at the end of the day, business is about people, and people connect with other people they know, like, and trust. 🤝 If you have ideas, questions, or need a little support, drop a line in the comments. Alternatively, you can go to my LinkedIn profile and use the booking link for a convo ☎️ 🙋🏻♀️ QUESTION: What’s one way you’re currently building authentic connections in your business? #businessdevelopment #relationships #networking

Do you dread the awkward silence before a virtual call starts, especially when waiting for multiple participants to join?   I used to.   That stretch of time always felt uncomfortable. I’d find myself checking email or pretending to look busy until the real conversation began… or worse, making small talk about the weather.   Then something shifted.   I started preparing for those quiet moments just like I prepare for the meeting itself.   Now, I use that time to connect—intentionally and authentically.   Before a call, I take a few minutes to look up who I’m meeting with on LinkedIn. I scan their background—where they went to school, where they’ve worked, what they post about, and whether we have any mutual connections. And if I’m short on time, I’ll even ask AI if there’s anything notable happening at their organization.   Preparation is always priority #1, but here’s your backup plan for those times when you're pulled into a call with no time to prep:   Skip the weather talk (which rarely adds value), and instead ask: “Is there anything specific you want to walk away with today?” “Is there anything you think would be helpful to cover—for you or others?” “What’s been keeping you busy lately?” “What’s your focus area right now?” “Anything exciting on the horizon for your team?” “I see you are Director of _____. How is that the same or different from other organizations? And I’ll tailor it even further when I know the industry: Agriculture? I ask, “How’s the growing season shaping up this year?” Technology? I might ask, “What tool or trend is catching your attention lately?” Pharma? Something like, “What pipeline progress are you most excited about?”   It’s amazing what you can learn in just a few minutes. The result? I’ve uncovered insights that completely shifted the direction of a meeting. I’ve built faster rapport. And more often than not, I leave the call feeling like I talked with someone, not just to them. Here’s the tip that sums it up best—something I heard recently from Matt Abrahams on a podcast: “Be interested. Not interesting.” Read that again. It is a GAME CHANGER in every conversation.   Because here’s why it works: It shows presence It turns transactional time into relational time. It makes virtual feel a little more human.   Now, I don’t dread that silence. I look forward to what might come out of it.

Your inbox is full, but your connections are empty. 7 EQ shifts for real presence: Every message you send shapes how people perceive, trust, and work with you. Digital presence isn't just about tasks. It's about building relationships that matter. Here's how to make every interaction count 👇🏼 1. Master your video presence ↳ Join 2 mins early: "How was your weekend?" ↳ Make space: "Just taking a moment to process that" 2. Transform robotic replies ↳ "Thanks, this matters to me" instead of "Sounds good" ↳ "Let's talk at 5pm" instead of "Can't now" 3. Create mindful pauses ↳ 10-minute buffer for emotional messages ↳ Draft important responses, take a walk, return with fresh eyes 4. Make it personal ↳ "How did that presentation go?" not "How are you?" ↳ Share specific moments: "This reminded me of our talk yesterday" 5. Balance boundaries ↳ Schedule non-urgent messages for tomorrow ↳ Auto-reply: "Focused until 2pm" 6. Bridge digital and real life ↳ "Virtual coffee Tuesday 9am?" not "Let's catch up soon" ↳ Suggest a walk-and-talk over video calls when possible 7. Show up authentically ↳ Lead with "I know there's a lot happening" ↳ Name feelings: "This must be frustrating" Small shifts in communication create massive impact. Your presence powers connection. Which of these would make the biggest difference in your work relationships? -- ♻️ Repost to help your network build stronger digital relationships 🔔 Follow Dr. Carolyn Frost for more emotional intelligence strategies for your life

Ever noticed how the people you "like" are the ones you are most influenced by? You don't even need to "know" them that well. But if you simply "like" them - you'll end up rooting for, collaborating with, or recommending them to others. That’s not a coincidence - it’s the psychology of "liking" at work. The more we find common ground or genuinely connect with someone, the more likely we are to be influenced by them, trust them, and want to support their success. This principle, popularized by Dr. Robert Cialdini, is a great reminder for all of us trying to build relationships in business or to advance our careers. But here’s the thing: it’s not just about being likable - it’s about creating connections that make others feel seen and valued. (...yes, so in turn, they like you more!) So how do you apply this? How do you become more likeable in business? 1. Find shared ground: Whether it’s a mutual interest, value, or goal, people naturally connect over what they have in common. 2. Be approachable and authentic: In your conversations, online presence, and even your business’s "About Us" page, let your authentic personality shine. Show people who you are beyond the professional title. 3. Make it personal: Whether you’re networking, pitching, or building a community, ask questions, show genuine interest, and create moments that build rapport. In a world of transactional interactions (esp. online), relationships built on trust and mutual appreciation are what truly drive careers and businesses forward. 💡Takeaway: People don’t solely buy products or invest their time or money in companies - they invest in PEOPLE they like and trust. What’s one way you’ve built likability into your career or business strategy?

Let's talk about something simple yet impactful: the importance of showing up—literally—in the virtual world.** In today’s digital age, visibility is more than just being online. It's about making meaningful connections, building trust, and showcasing your leadership presence, even from behind a screen. Yet, I often see missed opportunities when it comes to two crucial areas: 1️⃣ LinkedIn Profile Picture: Your profile photo is the first impression you make on LinkedIn. If you don’t have a professional, approachable headshot, you're potentially missing out on connections, opportunities, and credibility. In fact, profiles with a photo get up to 21x more views and 9x more connection requests. It's a simple way to stand out and humanize your online presence. 2️⃣ Turning on Your Camera During Zoom/Video Calls: In an era where many of our interactions are virtual, having your camera on is a game-changer. It’s not just about “being seen”—it’s about showing that you’re engaged, present, and ready to connect. Studies show that people are more likely to remember and trust someone they've seen face-to-face, even virtually. When you turn on your camera: - You foster stronger connections with your team and stakeholders. - You demonstrate leadership presence and confidence. - You build rapport more effectively, which is crucial in negotiations, meetings, and interviews. Remember: People do business with people they trust. In a world where in-person interactions are often replaced by screens, your digital presence is the new handshake. 🤝 So, take a few minutes today to: 🔄 Update your LinkedIn profile photo. 📸 Turn on your camera in your next meeting. The small things can make a big difference. Let's not let these easy wins slip by! #ExecutivePresence #LeadershipTips #PersonalBrand #DigitalNetworking #LinkedInProfile #VideoCalls #ProfessionalGrowth