A Simple Smile – Importance of Rapport in the Workplace

You wake up from your bed. Groggy, you look at your watch on the side of your bed, then all the blood inside your body rush rapidly as you see that it was already 6:30 am and you will be late for work. You speed to your bathroom, and then you shower. You leap from the bathroom, finding that it is already 6:45, you are now more anxious and desperate into going to work on time. Skipping breakfast, you slide yourself in your car, start it,  then you drive, trying to race with the time. Then, traffic. Time flies as you glance your watch, 6:50… 6:55… 7:00… 7:05.

Yes, you are late, and you come to work tired and irritated because of what has transpired during the first part of your morning. Still, you expect something better, you opened up the door in your office and, guess what, you saw your colleagues frowning, not saying a word and are all busy with what they have to do.

Have you experienced this?

What if, in that incident, someone tapped you on your back and said, “Hey! Good morning!” The rest of your day will be brighter than the start of your morning, if of course, there are no deadlines ahead.

In a study Capella, rapport is a is defined as a feeling state experienced in interaction with another individual. These feelings come out as interest, positivity, and coordination, manifested through actions of involvement, interest, synchronization, and responsiveness to interaction.

A smile, a tap on the shoulder, a simple “How are you?” on your co-worker would most likely generate positive feelings and interest, as well as the feeling to coordinate and to be involved. Building rapport develops harmonious relationships within individuals and is beneficial to the company.

Employees having the right amount of rapport with one another may give rise to increased coordination and teamwork, also, feelings of involvement may lead to feelings of engagement, when translated to action, may lead to a better productivity.

Also, employees with established rapport would, more likely, be staying more with the company.  When employees feel that they are important and involved, they develop a sense of purpose in the company which would make them stay. Still, of course, employees moving out of the company because of family matters, or personal reasons is another story.

On establishing rapport with individuals, it is important to set boundaries. When rapport is too much, professionalism, authority, and respect pay the price. Positive feelings and interest are a must as long as professionalism and respect are still in place.
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If each and everyone in the workplace will give a simple smile towards their co-workers, you can just imagine the harmony and productivity of the employees. Other matters aside, simple gestures in building rapport create an excellent climate in the office which would be enjoyed by employees and employers alike.

Originally posted on LinkedIn last January 12, 2016
Image by wewiorka_wagner