Matching Physiology
People who get on well together tend to adopt the same body posture when communicating. Look at people locked in conversation and you will often see their silhouettes mirroring each other. An old couple, after many years of marriage, frequently almost seem to look alike. As well as overall posture, people tend to use similar gestures and mannerisms. For example, they may both lean back with arms clasped behind their heads. or face each other with hands open on the table, or with arms or legs crossed or uncrossed. This happens completely naturally and we hardly ever notice it. Once in rapport, our interest centres on the other person and the content of the discussion rather than any external physiology. All this physiological matching provides evidence of rapport. which we can therefore calibrate or measure. As well as using physiological matching to measure rapport, you can use it to establish and build rapport.
Sit or stand in the same overall way, aligning your back similarly, or positioning your head to one side to match the other person.
Cross or uncross your arms and legs, and match the other person's general body movements.
Make the same sorts of gestures with your hands. face and body.
Sit or stand in the same overall way, aligning your back similarly, or positioning your head to one side to match the other person.
Cross or uncross your arms and legs, and match the other person's general body movements.
Make the same sorts of gestures with your hands. face and body.
