Physical Space - Body Language
One body language stance that surprised me recently was one of "space". My students would put at least one chair, sometimes two, between them and the next student. While this was not unusual to see in one-off situations, it was happening overall in the student body. None of them were approachable and none of them wanted to interact with me, or each other. Now, you ask, what did I do? Well, I started by meeting individually with each student; then I incorporated team building exercises into my lectures; and split the students into groups to work on in-class assignments. Outside of classes, I asked them to reach out to me when ever needed. Slowly the students started moving toward each other. Now, they all sit side by side in the classroom. This, to me, is a bold body language that told me these students were influenced by their environment to stand "alone", trust no one, depend on no one.
Sandra,
WOW! This is amazing. Great awareness with your students! Thank you for sharing this in the forum!
Dr. Jean Norris
I have seen this more and more in groups that do not interact on a regular basis. I know when I first started working on group projects in my MBA course it was rough for some of us to work side by side, online we were fine but having to talk real time was often an effort.
Britton, more and more people are being taught to standalone and depend on no one. You even see this in families; so, how can we expect to see differently in the classroom student body. Since the work environment is dependent on "team work", it seems that it is put-upon us to "grow" students who grow accustomed to working in this environment. Daily I am faced with students who enter our campus, and dread working in teams. What did they do in your MBA curriculum to foster, and grow, teaming? In mine, they put us in groups, forced team projects and, therefore, forced us to adapt to that type of learning. It was sometimes quite difficult to adapt to others' work habits and methods of producing. How was your environment?
Sandra,
Thank you Sandra! Britton, how was your environment that encouraged you to adapt?
Dr. Jean Norris
Since body language is so important and really tells you the interest and trust towards you off the bat,i feel that depending on what you see is how you conduct the interview,i always do an up front contract letting them know what we will cover however if i see negative body language i will engage in there needs sooner and lean forward and show positive body language to show them and make them comfortable, usually its a situation that they were mislead and creating trust and that fuzzy feeling is needed, then i will go forward with the school and still focus on there needs. Is this a good method or do you see a better way of handing this type of student?
Carlos, Great question. I think in order to answer your question, it would help for you to consider whether or not it's better to match body language. Do you match/mirror negative body language?
Dr. Jean Norris
