Proxemics and Proxemics in the Work Place

8/4/2019 Proxemics and Proxemics in the Work Place

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Proxemics and Proxemics in the

Work Place

Jenn Styers


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Proxemics

The relative positioning of your body in

relation to when you are communicating with

others.


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Edward T. Hall

Anthropologist

Created the Theory of Proxemics in 1959

Discovered Humans are distinctly aware oftheir perception of space and territory.

Conducted many studies and experiments, hediscovered that Humans have four distinct

comfort distances. His studies were universal for Americans, but

world wide findings are very different.


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Four Zones of Personal Space

Personal Space- is the space in which you let people get in

distance to you. The closer a person is the more you trust them

and are comfortable with your relationship.

4 Subgroups of personal space.

1. Intimate- Is reserved for people who you are romantically

involved with or have a connection they are normally between

10 inches to touching you.

2. Casual Personal- People are normally within 18 inches to 4 ft.

this generally used for informal conversations with friends.3. Social- Consultative- Is between 4 ft to 12 ft, this is for formal

transactions with people that you do not know well.

4. Public- Is when you are addressing a group of people, this

transaction can be at any space because of the unknown factor.


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To have a close and engaged conversation you

need to keep within close proximity to the

person you are communicating with to be

engaged. If you keep a far distance you may

come off as standoffish.


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Territory

Territory also determines Proxemics because your settingcan determine how close you are and how youcommunicate.

Primary Territory- Communicating with someone in their

personal space, this could be their house, bedroom, livingroom, place where they feel the most comfortable.

Secondary Territory- Also a place where you are able to feelcomfortable, may be a friends house or a familiar bar.

Public Territory- is a neutral territory that is not owned by

ourselves or by our partner in communication. This couldbe a street park.

Interaction Territory- is a temporary private space whereyou could have an intimate conversation.


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Body Angling

Is an important factor for proximity in your

conversations, when not sitting down.

Side-to- Side Can hinder conversation,

normally happens when walking.

Face- to-Face- Can be intimate or

confrontational, Normally happens in a

business setting.


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Seating Arrangement

Corner- to Corner- allows for eye contact and nonverbal signals. Good

for cooperative work.

Side-to-Side- Body language is difficult to read and physical proximity is

very close. Good for people who need to focus on a task not on one

another. Across-the- Table- is common in competitive situations. Nonverbal

signals can be monitored and the table provides a safe barrier.

Unintentional conflict can arise between two people who sit across

from each other.

Diagonally- Used for people who need space to work by themselves in

a sense. Do not have to sit directly opposite from one another.

Provides a barrier that allows both parties to concentrate on their

work.

Group Setting- There is normally a head of the table and this is usually

the leader of the group, the seat brings power, status and influence.


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Proxemics in Different Cultures

Very different from the United States

Most contact in the U.S is normally in the Casual-Personal space which is also known as the Social Space.This allows people in this culture to have their space

while remaining friendly. Asia and Northern Europealso favor this proximity.

Mediterranean, Latin and Arab cultures perfer to bemore intimate during conversations.

Misunderstanding can happen when two people formdifferent cultures interact with one another, if notknowing they could invade ones space or bestandoffish which could be interpreted as rude.


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PROXEMICS IS AN OFTEN OVER LOOKED

FORM OF COMMUNICATION, BUT AN

IMPORTANT CONCEPT TO MASTER IN

THE BUSINESS WORLD


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Fixtures

Edward T. Hall also studied fixtures in the

workplace

Fixed Fixtures are fixtures that can not move

Semi- Fixed Fixtures are fixtures that can move

such as furniture.

Fixtures will create barriers in the workplace

or open up communication


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Office Space

Office Arrangement is very important for

communication in a workplace.

A manager shows open communication with

employees when there are chairs and coucheswithin his space.

Dr. Lyle Sussman professor at the University of

Louisville gives management tips that says ademocratic leader will want to talk to an

employee side by side rather than behind a desk.


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Separating the Strong from the Weak

Use of Social Space can tell about the Status,

Confidence and power of people in the

workplace.

People who possess the most power andauthority command a greater amount of space.

- They will often distance themselves

- Why management has corner offices or officesapart from the rest of the workers. While the

workers are scrunched in small cubicles


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Separating the Strong from the Weak

Cont.

Confident people and people of higher status

will go to the center of attention while lower

status or non-confident people will hover near

exits or stay at the back of the room.


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Negotiation

Main goal in negotiation is that you want to

gain cooperation.

Knowing how personal space is internally

regulated can create better communication

from your counterpart.

Knowing personal space will stop you from

violating your counterparts personal space

and not causing unnecessary tension


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Site in Negotiation

One of the most important factors.

Barginers perception of the environment willeffect negotiations.

Being on Home Ground can ease negotiationsfor one of the communicators.

Cold settings will make negotiation competitive,normally for no nonsense people

Are more relaxed environment with warm colors,artwork and comfy chairs, will make negotiationsmore relaxed.


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The Details

In negotiations you have to make sure that

everything is equal to the number of ashtrays

that are on the table (fixtures). To making

sure that all chairs are even, if they arent atthe same height this will take away from eye

contact and make one counterpart seem less

important.* If this is the desired situation.


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Refrences

Bremer, J. (2004) Proxemics. Retrieved fromhttp://bremercommunications.com

Chu, Y., Greene, W.E., Ma, J., & Strong, W. F. (2005). SilentMessages in Negotiations: The Role of Non-VerbalCommunication in Cross Cultural Business Negotiations.Journal of Organizational Culture, Communication andConflicts. July, 2005. 2-4.

Hall, E.T. (1996) Proxemic Communication. Retrieved fromhttp://changingminds.org

Loo, T. How to Communicate Using Space. Retrieved fromhttp://hodu.com

Susman, L. Proxemcis Retrieved fromhttp://cobweb2.louisville.edu

Proxemics and Proxemics in the Work Place

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