Proxemics

Proxemics is the cultural, behavioral, and sociological aspects of spatial distances between individuals.

I am reminded of position I once had in a retail business. We trained all our sales staff that they were to greet any customer who came within 10 feet of them. This was a tool we used to make sure that our sales staff was engaging the customers but also served the purpose of making sure our customers did not leave feeling ignored and disrespected.

Across cultural lines the distance between people when the are talking, the act of greeting someone when the get within a certain distance and whether to shake hands, hug or bow are all factors of proxemics that can cause communication challenges if not understood and addressed appropriately.