Effective Nonverbal Communication in Business: Posture and Space

This article series discusses the importance of nonverbal communication in creating effective communicative habits in general, especially as it relates to the business world. The first article outlined the importance of facial expressions, the most obvious nonverbal area to work on.

This article discusses the important of posture and physical space when engaging in face-to-face conversations. These factors, and the intricacies that go along with them, can often go unnoticed and leave you sending signals you never intended to. Let's discuss what a positive posture looks like, how you can utilize posture mirroring to build rapport, and things to be conscious of when considering physical space.

An Open, Attentive Posture - Whether speaking or listening, you want to let others know that you are engaged and interested in the conversation. Stand or sit straight up (without appearing uncomfortably rigid) and avoid slouching or leaning over. Fidgeting, tapping, or spinning in your chair are all small movements that have the power to give the strong impression that you are bored or disinterested.

One of the most talked about posture faux pas (and also one of the most important to avoid) is the crossing of arms or legs. This simple position, which often may just be the most comfortable way to sit, makes you appear defensive, upset, or closed-off. Keep your feet flat on the floor and arms at your side to maintain an open, accepting posture that lets others know you're not upset with them.

Rapport and Mirroring - Building rapport means creating an environment of shared vision and trust and establishing real rapport can be invaluable to communicating effectively in business. While there are a number of ways to build rapport with someone, one of the most simple and effective is posture mirroring. When mirroring, one imitates the posture, gestures, and body language of another individual. If they are leaning back and looking relaxed, you assume this posture too. When they fold their hands and lean in, you do the same.

Mirroring has the ability to instantly let your audience know that you are tracking with them and on the same page. It can put strangers at ease, even if only subconsciously, by making them feel like all participants in the conversation have certain similarities.

Giving Some Space - In a business setting, being conscious about physical space is necessary to create a comfortable environment and also to ensure no one feels physically threatened or pursued. While there is no definite answer, a good guideline is to keep conversations at about an arm's length. This boundary can be created naturally through a handshake; when the hands come down, maintain that distance.

The sitcom Seinfeld made famous the concept of "close talkers" and nothing can be more uncomfortable in a business setting than someone who isn't aware of the personal space of others. If your space is being invaded, gently evade the close talker by stepping discreetly backwards. Unless the distance becomes threatening, do your best to solve the problem without actually bringing it up.

A word of caution: the concept of appropriate space and physical distance is largely dependent on one's culture, and interaction with individuals from other countries can often create awkward moment because of it. If you are planning to do business with international clients, make your self aware of practices in their native culture so you will be ready to effectively interact.

These tips can help you develop healthy habits with posture and personal space that are sure to amplify the messages you'd like to be sending with your body language. Continue following this series to learn more tips about the power of nonverbal language in business communication.