The pandemic gave us one thing which many of us have never let go of… Zoom. I myself fully embraced the switch from teaching mainly in person to now teaching my health and wellbeing training fully by Zoom.
One question though that I hear is: “Is it really possible to build true rapport through a screen?”
It’s a good question and one to which I can give my favourite answer… it depends!
For it really depends on the person delivering the training, do they embrace this technology or not?
Me personally? I love it.
Why I Believe Zoom Creates Stronger Connections
I believe there’s a level of intimacy that you just don’t get in person. Hear me out on this!
When I taught in person, everyone was sat around a big conference table meaning some people were close to me, some far away. This often meant those next to me would ask more questions, be more involved than those at the ‘back of the room’.
On Zoom, this dynamic disappears. Everyone is equal as I see them in Gallery view. My trainings are never large enough to have people on separate Zoom pages. I love this! I can see everyone, notice their thought processes, see when they want to ask a question, and it’s easy to invite people to speak.
This builds a connection not only to me but to each other. I always tell the group to view in gallery mode so we are part of a group. We learn better when we have good energy and feel connected. This format naturally encourages knowledge sharing, idea exchange, and meaningful communication that might not happen in a traditional classroom setting.
Creating Psychological Safety in Virtual Spaces
Rapport is built when we can create a ‘safe’ environment. You could argue, can we truly build a safe space over Zoom?
It can be a challenge in this day and age where people record everything and make it readily available. This is where I do create a firm boundary of no recordings available for replay, and no recording allowed from the group.
Why?
Firstly, do people really go back and listen? Do we make recordings available when we are live in person?
The answer is usually no, and if someone believes they will go back and listen, there’s a chance they won’t be fully present for the teachings. Good rapport involves everyone being fully present.
The other and more important point, for me, is I want to (to the best of my ability) create a space where we can share parts of our ‘journey’ – where we can bring ourselves completely to the shared experience of teaching by feeling safe within our vulnerability of sharing.
Confidentiality is so important to rapport building, and in creating this boundary for the training, it exemplifies good coaching practice and strengthens trust within the group.
The Human Connection Through Screens
It never ceases to amaze me how we can be fully present to each other, sharing stories, having emotional reactions, and cheering fellow students on. The group discussions we often have around emotions exemplify this connection. Students get the opportunity to dive into specific emotions, share their thoughts, and then bring their insights back to the group.
As one of our graduates beautifully put it:
“What a week! Who knew five days on Zoom could go by seemingly so quickly but in an informative, engaging and supportive way?!! Dr Claire Maguire fosters a supportive environment within the cohort so I felt able to fully participate in the sessions with both her and my fellow students, who were a wonderful bunch.” – Becky J.
These moments of vulnerability and support are just as powerful – sometimes even more so – through the screen as they would be in person.
Techniques That Foster Virtual Connection
Creating strong rapport doesn’t happen by accident. I start the first day earlier so we can meet each other and share something about ourselves. While this could be professional, quite often people bring in personal elements, perhaps encouraged by my own willingness to share parts of my personal story.
One graduate shared:
“I highly recommend the Raw Horizons 5-day course to become a Health and Wellbeing Coach. It is very well structured and taught whilst giving space to every participant to contribute. I joined a course in January over Zoom, which added a flexibility element whilst being very interactive. Claire is a fantastic teacher—she makes everyone feel comfortable right from the start. Met some lovely people along the way and learned so much in just five days.” – Charline S.
I also begin each day with a breath practice and/or short meditation which brings us to presence together. This shared ritual creates a moment of collective focus and connection before we dive into the day’s learning.
These simple practices help establish the psychological safety needed for deep learning and authentic sharing.
The Power of Breakout Rooms
One final advantage of Zoom for rapport-building is the breakout room feature. These virtual spaces provide wonderful opportunities for participants to connect with fellow students in smaller, more intimate settings.
The privacy of these rooms often encourages deeper conversation and relationship-building that might never develop in a traditional classroom setting.
“Completing the Raw Horizons course was a wonderful experience. The online classroom was supportive and engaging, with plenty of time to interact and get to know participants. I was amazed at the bond made with the group in just 5-days, and I have to admit feeling emotional and sad to say “goodbye” when it ended!!” – Victoria G.
Embracing the Virtual Connection
The next time you find yourself preparing for a virtual training session or meeting, I encourage you to reconsider any assumptions about the limitations of online connection.
Instead, ask yourself: “How can I leverage this medium to create even deeper rapport than would be possible in person?”
Try implementing one small change in your next virtual session – perhaps gallery view, a brief shared moment of presence, or more intentional use of breakout rooms.
You might be surprised at how these simple adjustments transform the quality of connection in your virtual space.
I’d love to hear how you’ve experienced rapport-building in virtual environments. What approaches have you found most effective?
Claire Maguire is the founder of Raw Horizons, offering professional health and wellbeing coach training accredited by The Association for Coaching and the Personalised Care Institute.
Click here to read what we teach over our 5-day Health & Wellbeing Coach Training delivered by Zoom.