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Education

Posturing two people can communicate through personal space in a
way that highlights the dynamic between them.
Historically, posture is one of the primary focuses in per-
sonal presentation. Although individual posture may be If you move closer to someone and they move back, it tells
affected by a person's strength and flexibility (see https:// you they are not that comfortable with you. If you share a
tinyurl.com/3k5rar65), the fact is that posture is also a key close space and find yourself getting closer in communi-
indicator of how someone feels in a given situation—and cation, it might show that a bond has formed or trust has
it might tell you quite a bit about how they feel in general. been established.

When someone is upright and sturdy, it gives the indica- Body of work
tion that they are confident and feel at ease in the situ-
ation they are in. It can also demonstrate that a person We communicate with different parts of our bodies, but
is ready and engaged. A wilting posture or poor posture sometimes what we really feel is spelled out in every mo-
can show anything from a lack of interest to a lack of self- tion we make. For example, clear tension in the body says
confidence (see https://tinyurl.com/3u23kytm). Either way, a lot. Stiff shoulders, a rigid spine and unmoving hands
the message it sends shows that the person is likely un- might convey anger or discomfort.
sure or uncommitted to the situation.
Casual movements, particularly those that are loose and
Space out relaxed, can show a lot about someone's comfort level in a
situation. As we get more comfortable, we tend to loosen
Personal space is a natural barrier that we each create for up physically and feel more free to move in the moment.
ourselves (see https://tinyurl.com/y9btbk99). Most of the
time, we don't realize that we are modifying our personal The real deal
space range unless it is for an obvious reason, like step-
ping out of someone's way before you collide. However, We can't all be mind readers, but understanding body
the personal space that we keep can tell an interesting sto- language can communicate more than someone's words
ry about who we are and how we feel in a given situation. alone can offer. Paying attention to the subconscious sig-
nals a person shares can help you to recognize their dis-
People who are truly comfortable have a tendency to close comfort, gauge their preparedness and better understand
the gap in personal space, but this is not a one-sided ef- them as a whole.
fort. When it is, it tends to create discomfort. However, Nicholas Cucci is the co-founder and COO of Fluid Pay LLC. Cucci is also

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