How To Improve Communication In A Coaching Process: Calibration And Rapport
Neurolinguistic Programming, by focusing on the relationship between thought, language and behavior, is a very helpful methodology for professional coaches, since it offers numerous tools and resources to use to make working with the client more effective, improving any process. Coaching.
Within the wide range of NLP tools and techniques that can be used in the practice of coaching, there are two that we would like to talk about in this article because of how useful they are to establish effective, trusting and fluid communication. between coach and coachee, something key for the help and support process to be successful. We refer to calibration and rapport (or synchrony)
When we talk about calibration, about ‘calibrating the other person’, we are talking about observation; of observe the interlocutor deeply what it does, what it says and how it says it, to collect all the possible information that helps to understand it in a complete and global way.
This observation is based on pay special attention to the following points:
With all the information provided by all these points observed, we can better understand how that person feels when talking to us (nervous, angry, upset, etc.), whether they are attentive or not, whether they are more or less receptive, etc. In short, they are data that allows us to be prepared to get the most out of the next resource
Rapport or synchrony
Has it ever happened to you that when talking to a person, even if they are not from your closest circle, have you noticed that the conversation flowed perfectly, that you were comfortable, that there was an understanding that facilitated communication? It’s not magic, it’s what in NLP is called rapport or creating harmony with another person.
Rapport is a technique that aims create an environment of trust and mutual cooperation in the conversation so that there are no distortions, prejudices or other impediments, but rather healthy listening and feedback occurs.
This synchrony occurs naturally and without realizing it with people like us. Precisely by working on rapport, what we seek is to consciously achieve that same wavelength with people with whom the conversation is not so natural and simple, but which needs to be, as can happen, precisely, in a coaching process..
The actions or steps you can take to achieve rapport or synchronization with the client are the following:
Once the coach synchronizes with the coachee through these actions and that interpersonal connection has been established, what is known as ‘center to center’ communication occurs since it is from unconscious to unconscious and, in this sense, the coach can use it to improve various aspects of the session such as, for example, managing to gradually bring the coachee’s agitated and stressed breathing to a slower and calmer one..
Definitely…
Although calibration and rapport are independent, they are still linked, since they complement each other perfectly, as we have seen in the article. In fact, it will be an optimal initial calibration that will allow establishing excellent synchrony or rapport with the client.
In D’Arte Human & Business School Not only do we delve into the use of Calibration and rapport in the different NLP training that we teach, but they are also studied as an important part of communication in a coaching process within our Own Master’s Degree in Professional Coaching with IE and Practitioner in NLP.
