Common ground is the shortest path to relevant conversation. It is not manufactured affinity; it is the identification of overlapping realities, constraints, or objectives that already exist. Locating it early reduces wasted motion and establishes that both parties are operating from observed conditions rather than abstract claims. In business settings, common ground might be a shared market pressure, a technical requirement, or a timeline. Once identified, it becomes the reference point against which further proposals are measured. Clarity about what is shared prevents later disagreement from being framed as personal rather than structural.