Body Language is the most important part of your communication skills.

1. Sumit Sahu, Asst. Prof., CIIM

2. Territory
Intimate Social
Touching Close 4-7 feet
6-18” Far - 7-12 feet
Personal Public
Close -1½ to 2½ Close - 12-25 feet
feet Far - 25 feet or
Far - 2½ to 4 ½ feet greater

3. Different Cultures ...
A crowded culture
What is your
private space?

4. When you invade my space
Reactions to an
invasion of your space
Feel troubled
Get defensive
Become aggressive
Retaliate

5. Masks We Wear
 Public Masks
Public smile
Clothing
Putting on my face
Extended territory
On the road
At work
Can we drop masks?

6. 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

7. 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?

8. 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, Julius Fast, MJF books, 1970.
Language

9. Misinterpretation = Trouble??
Lost business
Lack of animation = lack of
interest?
US tendency to get right to
business

10. Troubles
Conflict with peers
• Different work styles
• Wrong assumptions

11. Trouble….
 Misinterpretation of
signals
Can be BIG trouble
Legal trouble
Do you know how to
act or are you
confused?