According to the Behavioral Change Staircase, which step follows Empathy?

• A. Rapport
• B. Introduction
• C. Influence
• D. Behavior Change

Answer: (A)

Behavioral Change Staircase is about guiding a person from feeling understood to taking action by moving through a sequence of interpersonal steps. Empathy means you genuinely understand and reflect how the other person feels, which helps them feel seen and safe. The next step is building Rapport, because that trust and connection are what allow you to continue the conversation in a collaborative way. With rapport established, you can then Introduce a plan, influence how they view options, and ultimately support actual behavior change. Without moving to rapport first, attempts to introduce new ideas or push for change are more likely to be met with resistance. So the step that follows Empathy is Rapport.