Do you get completely thrown off when sysadmins use words like Linux, malware, BCDR, horked?

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Many SMB owners feel like an outsider- lost in a world that makes sense only to sysadmins.

In an ideal world, this would not have mattered. But, building a strong rapport with the gatekeepers of your IT operations is crucial for the success of your business.

The first and possibly the toughest step in building a relationship with sysadmin is breaking the ice. Smooth sailing through the initial social awkwardness is paramount to establishing a strong bond.

To ensure this doesn't get too overwhelming for you, here are a few ways to successfully break the ice with sysadmins.

A good sense of humor is an attractive trait that can help build strong relationships. One good punch line is all it takes to not only break the ice but neutralize any conflicts before it turns ugly.

However, a sense of humor is subjective. Before you decide to tickle a rib, know your audience. There is a good chance sysadmin might not get your jokes or worse, they might get offended. So much for breaking the ice!

Smart people like talking with other smart people. That's why discussions on thought-provoking topics allow for genuine deep conversations.

The ability to hold conversations on topics that matter to sysadmins increases your likeability. Read trending topics that are shaping the world of sysadmins and use that knowledge to break the ice.

The perfect body language: a firm handshake, nice smile, and the right posture can immediately disarm any sysadmin.

Body language plays an important role in turning formal relationships into informal ones, allowing you to have a more open and comfortable rapport with sysadmins. Basically, the right body language develops friendship, the wrong one makes you look arrogant and distant.

Build rapport with sysadmins to bridge communication gaps

A lack of rapport gives rise to communication gaps. This puts you and sysadmins on different paths, making it difficult to achieve common goals of running smooth IT operations.

However, building rapport with sysadmins is easier said than done, especially when their sensibilities are different and divergent.