Which of the following skills is primarily used to build trust with customers?

Building trust with customers is fundamentally rooted in establishing a connection that fosters understanding and confidence. Rapport involves creating a sense of mutual respect, warmth, and alignment with the customer, which is crucial for developing trust. When rapport is established, customers feel more comfortable sharing their concerns and needs, which in turn enables effective communication and enhances the overall customer experience.

While questioning, listening, and empathy are all important skills in customer interactions, they serve to enhance or support the process of building trust rather than being its primary component. Questioning helps clarify customer needs, listening allows for understanding their concerns, and empathy demonstrates recognition of their feelings. However, it is the sense of rapport that fundamentally paves the way for a trusting relationship, as it lays the groundwork for open, honest, and meaningful dialogue, ultimately leading to customer satisfaction and loyalty.