Understanding Proxemics in a Cultural Context

Summary

Communication is the process by which people get their thoughts, feelings and ideas across to a target audience. Its purpose is one of conveying a message with clarity without leaving room for any ambiguity. Whether in day to day business transactions, or in important negotiations, communication plays a major part. Communication can take place both verbally and non-verbally. Gaining a mastery over the nuances of body language,ugg boots, especially in a cross cultural situation, can make you better placed when dealing with others in a business environment. In many cultures,manolo blahnik, people hold their physical space very dear. In such situations,prada shoes, any transgression into the space of another can result in the sudden breakdown of communications, which can have disastrous results in a business context.

Body Language

Body language is the message unwittingly conveyed by a person through bodily movements. It is particularly important in business during discussions, conferences and meetings. In a group setting only one person will usually be speaking at a time and others will be listening. The gestures and other movements made by the other members of the group, reveal their interest or disinterest in the meeting. Sitting up straight and leaning towards the speaker, is an indication of an individual’s interest in what the speaker has to say. The use of body language differs with culture, gender and even age group.

Proxemics

Proxemics is the acceptable distance maintained between two people during an interactive session or in the course of casual conversation. The use of personal space differs depending upon the situation and the culture. When people who are accustomed to a large zone of personal space interact with people who are comfortable with a much smaller zone, misgivings and misunderstandings are bound to arise should either one of them intrude or avoid the space and contact that is held dear by the other. The Chinese and Russians favour less personal space in the business environment than their counterparts in Northern Europe and Canada.

Comfort Space

Effective communication involves not merely conveying a message with clarity, but must also fully address the issue of the physical comfort zone of those who receive your message. The manner in which you approach a business associate must be such as to put him or her at ease. The distance you maintain should be neither threatening nor evasive. Most American business people are comfortable with a distance of some 19 inches with others, whereas people in the UK seem to prefer a distance of 24 inches or more.

There is a general comfort zone recognised by most people the world over:

? Personal space is generally called the 3’ bubble. This space is usually meant for interacting with friends.
? Social space consists of 4’-12’ which is appropriate for business acquaintances.
? Public space constitutes 12’-25’ is an ideal space for public speaking.
? Intimate space is considered 6”-18”, for touching, embracing or whispering

Different Proxemic Cultures

Spatial zones protect you from unwanted intrusion on your privacy and bolster your sense of territory. The space suitable for interaction is not the same in all countries. For instance, to business persons hailing from Canada a personal space of 12-15 inches may seem to be comfortable, while their French counterparts would maintain a personal space of just 8 to 12 inches. Knowing the differences and behaving appropriately can help you avoid the pitfalls in these sensitive areas.

Use of Proxemics in Negotiations

The use of appropriate space for negotiations improves cooperation between players, which is a key aspect of any negotiation. If your behaviour is in conformity with the culture of your target audience, you can raise their level of confidence and develop a close, lasting business relationship. The space you opt for during interactions conveys considerable nonverbal information about your personality and traits. The evolution of proxemics differs from culture to culture and conveys different meanings to different people. When business people from low contact countries such as Scandinavian countries attempt to enter into negotiations with the high contact Italians, they would do well to bear in mind the cultural differences with respect to spatial preferences.

Proxemics and Seating Arrangements

Proxemics can be a key factor in a variety of business contexts. Sitting across the table from someone during a sales briefing allows for easy reading of nonverbal clues such as eye contact, facial expressions and other gestures and movements: these are easily conveyed to the more perceptive members of the audience. On the other hand, such an arrangement is regarded by many as confrontational. It is therefore usually advisable to adopt a side by side collaborative seating arrangement with your prospect when you make a sales pitch,prada skor, rendering the need for proxemic understanding that much greater to ensure that you neither evade nor invade.

Gender

The comfort zones of men are generally different from those of women. Women usually prefer to sit side by side while they converse, while men favour face to face conversations, and tend to stand closer to women than to me when they talk with them.

Conclusion

Different countries have different norms of personal space during interactions. When involved in cross cultural communication, understanding and respecting the conventions is essential for building relationships that can stand the test of time.