Making a connection

So you've just rocked up at a member's house! How do you start building rapport with them? Here is a suggestion for your opening questions to start building connection

1. Ask how the member's week is going.

2. Here's a secret for building connection: the follow-up question. Don't just leave it at your first question and change the topic; listen carefully to their response and then try and think of a follow-up question that builds on how they've responded. For example:

   • "How long have you been doing x?"

   • "Is doing x something you enjoy/do often?"

   • "Who did you do that with?"

3. If the member asks you about your week, try to be generous with your response. Rather than saying "Not much," or "Just working", try to offer a small amount of information about yourself that enables them to learn about about who you are and what you like. For example:

   • Talk about a TV show you're enjoying.

   • Talk about a friend you caught up with and how you know them.

   • Talk about a hobby of yours which you've been doing.