Rapport Meaning

The Art of Establishing Rapport

Learning December 8, 2021

Rapport Meaning

What Is Rapport And Why Does It Matter?

Let’s talk about rapport, building rapport, and rapport meaning. I’m sure you’ve heard about establishing rapport, but you may not have a clear understanding of what it is and why it’s important. We’ll start there and then spend the rest of this short report going over how to establish rapport and use it to create friendships and good working relationships.
 
Let’s start with a definition. Here’s what Merriam-Webster says about “rapport”:
 
"a friendly, harmonious relationship; especially:  a relationship characterized by agreement, mutual understanding, or empathy that makes communication possible or easy"
 
Source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rapport
 
To rephrase that definition, rapport gives you that instant connection, a feeling that you already know the other person, start to trust them, and are ready to move forward, wherever that future relationship may take you.
 
I’m sure you’ve experienced this in the past, without realizing it or paying it a lot of attention. Maybe you met a pretty girl at a bar and instantly clicked with her. Maybe you got a new co-worker at the office and the two of you hit it off right away after finding that you have a hobby or interest in common. Maybe you’ve had a boss or teacher in the past who was easy to talk to and get along with from the start. All of those are great examples of building rapport with another person from the start.
 
Once you’ve established rapport, it becomes easier to build a mutually beneficial relationship. That’s why it’s important to establish rapport in the first place. It gives you that instant connection that makes both of you feel like you’ve known each other for much longer than you have. This, in turn, creates trust and allows you to move on with whatever it is the two of you need to get done.
 
Maybe you need to establish rapport with a new co-worker or boss. It’s important to do so quickly, so you can get to work on the time sensitive projects piling up on your desk.
 
Maybe you’re making a new friend that’s interested in the same hobby as you are. With that instant connection and rapport, you will become fast friends. In turn, you can craft, run, workout, or shop together, learn from each other and enjoy your favorite past time together.
 
It’s easy to see through this handful of little examples from everyday life that being able to build rapport with others and to do so quickly is a handy skill to have. We are social creatures that have to figure out a way to work and live together. Being able to establish rapport helps us do that.
 
We also live in a complicated and fast-paced world, where speed matters. Being able to establish rapport quickly gives you a distinct advantage. It opens doors for you and helps you make the connections you need to make more easily.
 
In other words, being able to establish rapport quickly is a good skill to have. Let’s take a look at how you can do just that. 

How To Establish Rapport Quickly

Now that you have a pretty good idea of why establishing report is important, let’s talk about how to do that. More importantly, let’s talk about how to do it quickly so you can move on with the rest of your day and start cultivating that relationship. You don’t want to spend a lot of time courting and convincing someone that you’re a nice and trustworthy person.
 
Establishing rapport quickly isn’t just about saving time. If you can’t make that crucial connection in the first few minutes, you risk losing the interest of the person you’re trying to win over, and that’s not good. Let’s get to work to make sure that doesn’t happen.
 
Be Open
Start with an open mind and attitude. This will go a long way towards helping you establish rapport quickly. It will influence not only your mind (and possibly your heart) but with it also your body language, something we will talk about more a little further on. Check your attitude if needed and make sure it’s open and inviting. If not, adjust as needed. Remember, your goal is to establish rapport.
 
Listen And Observe
Next, spend a little time listening and observing the other person, before approaching them. You can learn a lot this way that will come in handy in the next step. It may at first glance seem like a waste of time, but trust me, it isn’t. A little investigative work is one of the best things you can do.
 
Find Common Ground And Make A Connection
Use what you’ve learned through your observation or what you already know about the other person to find something that connects the two of you. It doesn’t matter how large or small it is. You need to find some common ground or something you both enjoy, to make a fast connection.
 
Your Voice And Your Body Language
Pay close attention to your voice and body language. Make sure your body signals that you’re open to meeting the other person and that you are trustworthy. That means making and keeping eye contact, and having an open posture. Don’t hunch over or cross your arms.
 
To give the other person a sense of connection, it helps to match your tone of voice and speech pattern to theirs.
 
Be Kind And Smile
Last but not least, don’t forget to be kind, put on your best smile, and simply be a pleasure to be around. We are attracted to friendly people and if you do your best to be one, meeting new people and establishing rapport will go that much smoother. Do your best to make it a genuine smile. We are all very good at picking out a fake one. Find something to like about the other person and the situation you’re in and focus on that. Your smile will become genuine and that’s a very attractive thing. 

How To Keep Rapport Going And Move Into Lasting Friendships

ou’ve established rapport with a new person. You’re off to a great start, but at the end of the day, establishing rapport simply gets you a foot in the door. What you do from here to take advantage of that is up to you.
 
Your goal should be to keep that connection strong and turn it into a lasting connection or friendship that will serve you well for years to come. Let me share a couple of ideas with you for doing just that.
 
Show an interest to connect or to stay in touch. Connections have to be nurtured and at the very least that means that you need to interact on occasion. Give the other person a call when you’re thinking about them, or simply to check in. Send a text message or share a link to an interesting article on social media. In other words, put in the time and effort it takes to nurture the connection.
 
Another great tip is to keep making it about them. At our core, we’re always interested in what’s in it for us and getting closer to our own goals is one of our biggest motivators. Use this to your advantage and keep strengthening your bond with others by focusing on what’s in it for them. Yes, you’ll also accomplish your own goals along the way, but what you talk about and share should be about how it will help them.
 
Keep using their first name whenever you talk to them. There’s a lot of power in a first name and we love hearing it. It’s a great way to establish rapport, but also works wonders down the road. That’s why it’s so important to get into the habit of remembering people’s names. It makes them feel important and that you truly care about them.
 
Other ways to nurture connections are to always be kind and friendly. Check your attitude if needed before you engage with people who are important to you. Being friendly and in a good mood (or at least appearing to be) will go a long way to open doors for you.
 
Of course, a little praise or a gesture of appreciation never hurts. If you’ve made a new business contact that could have a big impact on your bottom line, don’t be shy about sending over a gift basket or the likes to show you care and are very interested in a mutually beneficial relationship. If you’ve made a new friend who shares a hobby, send a handwritten note to let them know how much you appreciate them and that you enjoyed the time you spent together.
 
Above all, treat those around you with honesty and respect. It may seem very old-fashioned, but there’s a reason it’s worked for thousands of years. These virtues instill trust in those around us and trust is the best basis for a long-lasting relationship in all areas of your career and your life.

Source: https://www.market-connections.net/blog/rapport-meaning

About the Author

Mandy Fard is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, CMRW) and Recruiter with decades of experience in assisting job seekers, working directly with employers in multiple industries, and writing proven-effective resumes.

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