Are You “Rapporting” or Just Reporting? The Secret to Better Stakeholder Conversations
Lately I have been thinking about the conversations that take place between business partners and their stakeholders. A lot of these conversations are now short, sharp, data-based conversations over email, online messages and chat.
When did we stop taking the time to connect and understand our colleagues and stakeholders?
Have we forgotten the art of building rapport?
The noun rapport means “a friendly, harmonious relationship,” especially one “characterized by agreement, mutual understanding, or empathy that makes communication possible or easy.” (Thank you Merriam-Webster)
If rapport makes communication possible or easy, then building rapport should be at the heart of our stakeholder relationships. I like to call it “Rapporting”, not to be confused with Reporting.
Reporting helps the numbers be seen. “Rapporting” helps your stakeholder be seen.
I believe there are 3 “rapporting” conversations we should be having with our stakeholders:
The BUY-IN conversation (e.g. here is the plan)
The FEEDBACK conversation (e.g. here is the performance to plan)
The INSIGHT conversation (e.g. here is something of value that we can act on)
A key focus of “rapporting” is responding to the needs of your stakeholder whilst in conversation. The three conversations above all serve different stakeholder needs. If you try and have all three conversations at once, your chances of building rapport will be low.
Which one of the 3 “rapporting” conversations…
Excites you?
Challenges you?
Should you be having next with your stakeholder?