rapport n. relation: connection: sympathy: emotional bond: spiritualist touch (Source: Chambers English Dictionary. 1989)Rapport is basically an emotional connection with other people.
Building rapport is the process of establishing that connection. It is usually based on shared experiences or views, including a shared sense of humour. Building rapport tends to be most important at the start of an acquaintanceship or working relationship. The rapport created, however, can last for many years.
Why Does Rapport Matter?
Rapport is important in both our professional and personal lives.Employers are more likely to employ somebody who they believe will get on well with their current staff. Personal relationships are easier to make and develop when there is a closer connection and understanding between the parties involved – i.e. there is greater rapport.
When we first meet someone new, we start to try to build rapport. Like it or not, this is why small talk exists: it is a way to try to find things in common with other people and build that shared bond. This bond is important because we all have a tendency to want to be with ‘people like us’.
It is much easier to build rapport with someone who is very like you, or who shares a lot of your interests.
You have shared ground, and things to talk about. You also have a shared frame of reference. This makes both building a relationship, and communicating more generally, much easier.
However, we have probably all found ourselves thinking:
“He/she is lovely, I’m sure, but we really have nothing in common.”Under those circumstances, working together is likely to be harder, and communication more difficult, because you lack a shared frame of reference. You will need to work harder to build rapport and develop your relationship—but this is still possible.