Rapport is an essential basis for successful communication. If there is no rapport then there can be no real communication! In general, we gravitate towards people that we think of as being similar to us. People like people who are like themselves. Like attracts like. When you take the time to establish rapport the common ground between you and the other person is emphasized. At the same time, the differences between you and another are downplayed.
The quickest, easiest, and simplest way to gain rapport is to assume you already have rapport. In most situations this works perfectly. If you imagine the person you are talking with is a very dear, close friend, then you are going to change your behavior. The way you speak will change. The way you move your body will change. Your attitude towards what they have to say will change so that you may offer a positive response. It’s all very subtle, but your mindset helps to dictate the way the conversation is going to go. You begin sending signals to the other person’s subconscious. Those signals say that you are a friend, that you like them, and that you care about what they have to say. Another human being can’t help but react to a warm environment like that! You will lead them into feelings of familiarity, and responsiveness.
Rapport is the quality of creating harmony. What you’re doing is creating an environment of mutual acceptance between people. When people are at ease with one another, open, honest, and real communication occurs easily.