A funny name for a title no? Well I'm going to discuss body language for the next couple blog posts. It is a critical component to communication. Actually it's not critical at all once you understand it, like most things in life.
You may notice in the office setting how some people are very easy to approach and others aren't. Besides the rude and obnoxious co-workers. I'm specifically referring to the individuals you can't completely put your finger on. Something that affects communication with them. Maybe they come off as nervous, or don't take too well to being given orders, or just can't give orders. Maybe it is their body language that you never noticed. Or just maybe, maybe it is you who does not make them feel comfortable or put them at ease.
Reading body language is more of an art than a science to be honest. It doesn't let you know exactly what the other person may be thinking. But you can definitely use some common positional ideas to make life easier for you and your co-workers. The goal here is to make it easier for others to approach you and feel comfortable around you. If you are a manager at any level, this is very important. Communication is vital at all levels of business. To ensure there is no breakdown we need to maintain solid working friendships. You will be able to spot unease and divides among co-workers once you understand some basic body language tells.
To kick off I want to go over how to seat yourself and others at a meeting or when you are informally meeting (standing up). Most meetings for small businesses are in 2s or 3s, so our discussion will be limited to 3 people max.The same concepts apply to larger groups anyways.
In the following picture notice the imaginary triangle that is created between the three. The focal point will be where your line of vision meets. Using intuition, what are some pro's and con's to the following seating arrangement for this hypothetical meeting?
Pros
- First, you will always want to sit at the end of the table, this is a seat that commands authority
- A great setup if you are mediating or going over disciplinary action between two people
- If you want to assign work to two individuals this is ideal
Cons
- Naturally, they are the exact opposite of the Pros
- If you do not want to make the meeting seem formal, put tension on the others or are not giving authoritative commands this setup should be avoided.
- Putting two sales agents or individuals from a different company at these seats can transfer a lot of tension on to you, they will be maintaining strong eye contact with you and you will be pressured to give answers.
- Putting two employees in these spots can transfer a lot of tension on to them or amongst each other. They will be forced to maintain or avoid eye contact with each other. Creating awkwardness.
Here is a much more seating arrangement for internal or informal meetings. The individuals on either side of you are not having to face each other and maintain eye contact or avoid eye contact depending on the discussion. Naturally this provides a more comfortable setup. This all depends on what you are trying to accomplish in your meetings. The second arrangement will lead to a more productive meeting. The communication doesn't break down as easily. You can also exchange ideas and easily look at each others work. Ensure you space the seats out according to comfort levels. Something you should also keep in mind.
These arrangements also apply to informal discussions when standing. Ensure you are standing in an open circle. If someone else enters the discussion, ensure you step back and allow them to be a part of the open (semi) circle. If they enter the discussion standing in front of everyone, it will put them in an authoritative spot where all eyes are on them. This could be good or bad depending on the discussion. Obviously a superior should be handled differently than one of your employees when they step into this spot.The goals here are easy. ensure you maintain your image as the manager or leader in your office setting but also ensure it is a comfortable atmosphere. Usually the easiest thing to change aside from the language and tone you use, is the way you position yourself in discussions and meetings.
*Photo courtesy of Regnum Christi (http://www.regnumchristi.org/english/index.phtml)
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