How to Build Rapport with Your Manager – Introduction
Building strong relationships with your manager and senior leaders is one of the most important – and often overlooked – ways to grow your career.
When your English isn’t perfect, it can feel even harder to speak up, ask questions or connect personally with someone more senior. But with the right strategies and language, you can build positive, professional rapport – even across cultures and hierarchies.
This article gives you practical advice, helpful phrases and real-world examples to help you connect with managers and senior leaders at work – no matter where you are in your career.
👉 This article builds on How to Network in English: Building Connections with Confidence and How to Build Good Relationships with Colleagues in English. You can also join our community for professionals who need English for work.
Understand What “Rapport” Means in the Workplace
In English, “building rapport” means creating a relationship based on trust, mutual respect and positive communication. With managers and senior leaders, this doesn’t mean being their friend – it means showing that you’re reliable, thoughtful and easy to work with.
You don’t need to be funny, charming or highly fluent. Just being clear, respectful and professional can go a long way.
Start with Small, Consistent Interactions
You don’t need long conversations to build rapport. In fact, it’s often the short, everyday interactions that create the strongest connections.
✅ Examples:
- “Morning! Just heading into the meeting now – I’ll share that report afterwards.”
- “Thanks for your feedback on the client notes – that helped me clarify the next steps.”
- “Hope your weekend went well. That presentation on Friday was really useful.”
These small comments show that you’re engaged, thoughtful and human. They also make it easier to have longer conversations when needed.
Listen More Than You Speak – Especially at First
When speaking to someone senior, focus on listening carefully to their tone, priorities and communication style.
For example, if your manager often uses phrases like “we need to stay aligned” or “let’s focus on the client’s needs”, you can mirror that in your own responses:
“Yes, I agree. Staying aligned across the teams will help us avoid confusion later.”
Show Interest in Their Priorities
Senior leaders are often focused on results, strategy and big-picture goals. If you can show that you understand (or are learning) what matters to them, you’ll earn respect quickly.
✅ Useful phrases:
- “I read your comments on the team update – it helped me see where our priorities are shifting.”
- “Would it be useful to prepare a summary before the client call?”
- “I’ve been thinking about how my work supports our larger goals.”
This shows initiative – which good leaders notice and value.
Adapt to Their Communication Style
Some managers are very direct:
“Just get this done by Thursday.”
Others are more diplomatic:
“If we could aim for Thursday, that would be great.”
Understanding the style – and mirroring it – helps build rapport.
UK vs US Difference:
UK managers often use softer, indirect language. Saying “That might be worth considering” may mean “Do this now”.
US managers are usually more direct. “I need this done today” means exactly that.
Pay attention to phrasing, and when unsure, it’s okay to clarify:
“Just to confirm – would you like that finished by the end of today?”
Communicate Proactively and Clearly
One of the fastest ways to build trust is by communicating before problems arise.
✅ Examples:
- “Just a quick update – the client call has moved to 3pm. I’ll send a summary right after.”
- “We’re still waiting on feedback from marketing, but everything else is ready.”
This shows responsibility and helps your manager relax – always a good thing.
Appreciate and Acknowledge Feedback
Whether the feedback is positive or critical, responding with maturity helps you stand out.
✅ Positive:
“Thanks – I appreciate that.”
“That means a lot coming from you.”
✅ Constructive:
“Thanks for pointing that out. I’ll make sure to apply it to the next version.”
“I understand – I’ll focus more on that area going forward.”
Ask Good Questions – at the Right Time
Good managers and leaders often appreciate questions that show you’re thinking critically.
(Bad managers don’t care about your thoughts or opinions.)
✅ Examples:
- “Would you prefer a short summary in the deck, or should we include more detail?”
- “I noticed this came up last quarter – would you recommend handling it the same way again?”
Avoid interrupting or asking too many questions in one go. Choose your moment, and keep it focused.
Understand the Type of Manager You’re Dealing With
Not all managers are the same. Some build rapport naturally. Others seem disinterested or even dismissive.
Knowing the difference helps you adjust your approach.
Good Managers
- Listen to their team
- Offer guidance
- Care about people and results
“Thanks for staying late on this – I know it’s been a push.”
You can build rapport by being open, appreciative, and proactive:
“I really appreciate your support this week – it made a big difference.”
Bad Managers (you know who you are!)
- Focus only on figures, deadlines and their personal bonuses
- Don’t listen
- Often blame others and/or take credit unfairly
“Why was that report late? This affects my numbers.”
With bad managers, stay calm and professional:
“The delay was due to a client request, but I’ve adjusted the timeline for next week.”
You don’t need to be close to a bad manager – just reliable, respectful and professionally distant. That is rapport in a difficult situation.
Share Wins and Celebrate Progress
Managers often don’t know what you’ve achieved unless you tell them. Sharing successes helps build trust – just do it in a modest, professional way.
✅ Examples:
- “The new onboarding guide has already saved the team a few hours this week.”
- “The client seemed really happy with the updated visuals – I think it helped move things forward.”
This shows impact, not ego.
Final Thought: Rapport is a Two-Way Street
You don’t need to impress your manager with perfect English.
Instead, aim to show that you’re engaged, dependable and easy to communicate with. Over time, those little moments – a well-worded update, a thoughtful question, a quiet word of thanks – build strong, lasting rapport.
📌 Want more support with business English? Join our community for professionals who need English for work.
📖 You might also like:
- How to Network in English: Building Connections with Confidence
- How to Build Good Relationships with Colleagues in English
