Body Language: An appropriate touch can build rapport
Posted by: Claudia Raab in New Body Language on
Dec 25, 2008
"Use non-verbal communication to SOFTEN the hard-line position of others" is this week's blog theme with the theme's acronym (an abbreviation of several words that forms a word itself) SOFTEN standing for S = Smile, O = Open Posture, F = Forward Lean, T = Touch, E = Eye Contact, N = Nod - a short and handy formula to easily overcome any barriers in communication between two people by using appropriate body language.
Today we'll be looking at T for Touch. A soft, gentle touch can easily and quickly establish rapport. However, think twice before touching your conversation partner and consider his or her cultural background and personality. In some cultures a touch might not be appropriate at all. For other cultures it might be totally normal. In any case the best and less intimitading point to touch is the elbow.
By the way: Merry Christmas! The Raab & Raab Performance Consulting Team hopes you have a wonderful break!