BODY LANGUAGE

Body language communicates much more than words. Body language signals are called ‘leakages’ because you may try to tell something, but the truth will leak out visually.

Aspects of Body Language

Territory

• Personal– Close -1½ to 2½ feet– Far - 2½ to 4 ½ feet

• Intimate– Touching – 6-18”

• Social – Close 4-7 feet– Far - 7-12 feet

• Public – Close - 12-25 feet– Far - 25 feet or

greater

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 thespoken language is stripped away and the onlycommunication left is body language, the truthwill find some way of poling through. Spokenlanguage 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?

ZonesIntimate

Personal

Social

Public

Shows that a person does not know or understand what you

are talking about

Means "All correct"

It is an OK signal normally, but, when it is jerked sharply upwards it becomes an insult

signal

Congruence

Submissive palm position

Dominant palm position

Aggressive palm position

Taking control handshake

Giving control handshake

Glove handshake

Rubbing hands

Positive expectation

Steepling hands

Lowered steeple Raised steeple

Clenched handsHigh clenched hands indicate people who are difficult to decipher

Gripping hands

Confidence Frustration

Closed attitude&

Thumb displays

Negative & superior attitude

Dominant or aggressive

Mouth guard

Suppress the deceitful words

Catch a lie..

Sometimes indicates thinking hard

Indicates anger & frustration

Collar pull

Evaluation

Boredom

Standard arm cross gesture

Defensive Or

negative attitude

Arm Gripping Gesture

Show that the user is 'cool’ and

to make his superiority felt

Partial Arm-Cross Barrier Gesture

lacking in self-confidence

Readiness

‘Readiness' which in the right context is correct,

but the basic meaning is aggression

Closed formation

Shows intimacy and signals for privacy

Shows nervous, reserved or defensive

attitude

The 4 Leg Lock Position

Sign of the tough-minded,

stubborn individual

Territorial gesture

Indicates pride of ownership

Ownership gesture

Reflects an easygoing, relaxed and carefree attitude