ABSTRACT
This chapter explains some of the most important features of the personal relationship with the auditee – from the first to the final contact. It includes some studies which illustrate key learning points about how to interact better with the auditee. Together, these encourage the auditors to think about the need to establish the best possible relationships with the wide variety of other individuals who could have a significant effect on the outcome of the audit. The lead auditor should start thinking about the early aspect of their work in advance of the audit, starting with their first communication with their site contact(s). The chapter presupposes that lead auditors, because of their prior experience, will already know many of the essential rules and techniques for establishing good interpersonal audit relationships and be capable of practising them.
