Every student learns differently. There is no blanket teaching technique that works 100% successfully for all. An engaged and active learning process always leads to the best results.

I'd definitely want to get to know them, and not just at a superficial level, but figure out what makes them tick, what they're passionate about, and what they can't stand doing. How can I make this person that I've just met excited about learning?

By not just teaching facts but by teaching critical thinking as well. Helping them learn how to analyze each problem on their own and figure out how best to tackle it. Give them the building blocks to be able to break down a difficult problem into something they can understand and that they thrive at.

Encouragement by proving to them that they can do the difficult work. Handing them the answers doesn't help them stay motivated, but guiding them along a path to the right answer that they discover themselves is much more valuable than simply being told the solution.

Compare it to something they already understand or can solve. Either that, or break it down into even more basic form -- all the way down until they do understand some part of it -- and then build upon that. Build the understanding from the ground up.

One of the most important steps is making sure the student themselves can correctly identify when, where, and why they're having a problem. Also recognizing what they do understand and then helping that bridge gaps in their comprehension.