Body Language

Territory
Intimate
Touching
6-18

Personal
Close -1 to
2 feet
Far - 2 to 4
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?

Actions Speak Louder than Words?

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,
Language Julius Fast, MJF books, 1970.

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.

Misinterpretatio
n 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?