Body language

Body Language

Territory

Intimate

Touching

6-18”

Personal

Close -1½ to 2½ feet

Far - 2½ to 4 ½ feet

Social

Close 4-7 feet

Far - 7-12 feet

Public

Close - 12-25 feet

Far - 25 feet or greater

Different Cultures ...

A crowded culture

What is your private space?

When you invade my space

Reactions to an invasion of your space

Feel troubled

Get defensive

Become aggressive

Retaliate

Masks We Wear

Public Masks

Public smile

Clothing

Putting on my face

Extended territory

On the road

At work

Can we drop masks?

Jockeying for position

Inclusive - Non-inclusive

How you include/exclude others in a group

Parallel body positions

Will position yourselves to relate to each other

Side by side are neutral

Facing means people are involved

Congruence-incongruence

Groups that imitate each other

Looking

How long do you look?

Staring- dehumanizes or challenges

Glances - socially acceptable timing

Appraisal- may indicate interest

Do you look when you talk?

Do you look when you listen?

‘What often happens in any relationship is that language itself becomes a mask and a means of

clouding and confusing the relationship. If the

spoken language is stripped away and the only

communication left is body language, the truth

will find some way of poling through. Spoken

language itself is a great obscurer”

Body Language, Julius Fast, MJF books, 1970.

Actions Speak Louder than Words?

Misinterpretation = Trouble??

Lost business

Lack of animation = lack of interest?

US tendency to get right to business

Troubles

Conflict with peers

• Different work styles

• Wrong assumptions

Trouble….

Misinterpretation of signals

Can be BIG trouble

Legal trouble

Do you know how to act or are you confused?

Do you know what you are saying?