People who live lives that involve lavish entertaining need space to accom-
modate all the individuals and the accompanying accessories that go with a
socially active life. Their personalities require a broad expanse of space.A person who has many people taking up much of his time occasionally
draws into his inner space for quiet contemplation. Executives, politicians,
busy parents, and professionals – as well as the ubiquitous celebrity – need
time alone to recharge their batteries.Big personalities fill their space with their movements. For example, they
hold their arms farther from their bodies than people with quieter personali-
ties. Their gestures are definite and they move with purpose. People whose
personalities are more internally directed use fewer and smaller gestures.Space also works in proportion to status. Presidents, senior partners, and
chief executives require a copious amount of resources, including space, in a
practical sense and to fill status expectations, both their own and others.Pauline is a Human Resources (HR) specialist, working in the telecoms indus-
try. When she was promoted to the role of HR director, she moved from her
open plan office to a private office of her own. Although the room wasn’t
large, it had windows and a door to close herself off. Knowing that she
needed thinking time as well as time for interacting with her team, Pauline
appreciated the way that she was able to manage her public and private
space according to the requirements.Growing up in Palm Beach, Florida, a town of great opulence and wealth, I
often saw 12-bedroom mansions for a family of four. The size of people’s
homes reflected their status – large homes indicated large incomes and large
personalities. Small homes indicated lower income and lower status. My
mother’s home in Palm Beach had two bedrooms that cosily accommodated
my mother, my sister, and myself. Mom was a single mother, struggling to
raise her two daughters. She didn’t entertain much and had little use for a lot
of space. Half a mile away was the winter home of the late President John F
Kennedy. His home was huge in comparison, with high walls surrounding the
property and bodyguards walking the grounds. The President’s position of
power, status, and authority came with more needs than that of a young
divorcee on a restricted budget.You can tell a person’s status by how much personal space he requires. The
more space expected and offered, the higher the status.How you view and define your space determines how others respond. By
being clear about how far a person may come into your territory, you make it
easier for others to know your boundaries and behave accordingly.198 Part IV: Putting the Body into Social and Business Context