Rapport is defined as a close and harmonious relationship in which the people or groups concerned understand each other's feelings or ideas and communicate well.
Building a rapport with others is crucial in business, just as it is crucial in dating. It’s important because it helps build trust, and trust is what separates the dysfunctional relationships from the great relationships. Rapport also builds your connection and your bond with others.
People build rapport with others by taking the time to get to know them, asking meaningful questions and remembering the important details.
One of the most pivotal factors necessary for building rapport, though, is shared interests. Common ground will get you everywhere in relationships, because when someone can relate to you they’ll feel a deeper connection to you. Here are a few reasons why shared interests help you build a rapport and bond with someone:
You’ll probably have similar values
Your values effect the choices you make in your everyday life, as well as what or whom you prioritize. If someone has similar interests as you do (i.e. family, the environment, animal rights, etc) then it’s more likely that they’ll have similar values to yours compared with someone who has very dissimilar interests.
They won’t consider talking to you a waste of their time
if you have shared interests and you’ve built a rapport with someone, then spending time with you won’t be considered a waste of their time – because they’ll genuinely enjoy spending time with you and talking to you. If you’re dull, mundane, you have nothing in common and you bore them – well then they might consider any time with you a misuse of their time.
There’s a greater likelihood of a shared passion
Having a passion in common is basically rapport being handed to you on a silver platter. If you’re both passionate about the same thing, you’ll have plenty to talk about and plenty of activities to engage in together that you’ll both enjoy. Shared interests is one thing, but a shared passion is rarer and gives you much more to work with.
You’ll have a similar sense of humour
If you both enjoy dark comedy, you both like to be sarcastic, or you both find Amy Schumer to be absolutely hilarious, those are all great interests to have in common. The reason it’s important to have a similar sense of humour in a relationship of any sort is because you have to laugh together and have fun together – otherwise your relationship will be boring.
You’ll be more compatible
When you find someone who you get along with, share interests with, communicate well with and have a similar sense of humour to – it’s obvious that you’re compatible with that person. You’ll know that you’re compatible with someone if you’ve successfully built a rapport with them, because it’s very difficult to build a rapport with someone who you are not compatible with. It’s also very difficult to be in any sort of relationship with someone unless there’s compatibility.
