Nonverbal communication can also create immediacy, a feeling of closeness, involvement, and warmth between people (Andersen, Guerrero, & Jones, 2006; Prager, 2000). Such behaviors include sitting or standing close to another person, turning and leaning toward the individual, smiling, making eye contact, and touching appropriately (Andersen, 1998; Andersen, Guerrero, Buller, & Jorgensen, 1998). Even adding “smiley face” emoticons to your e-mail messages has been found to increase perceptions of immediacy and liking (Yoo, 2007).

Immediacy behaviors help you form and manage impressions, particularly if you want to have more social influence. The implications for interpersonal relationships are clear: physical contact, eye contact, smiling, and other gestures tell your romantic partner, your family members, and close friends that you love and care for them and that you want to be near them. In the professional world, multiple studies find that physicians, nurses, and staff who engage in immediacy behaviors have patients who are less fearful of them and more satisfied with their medical care (Richmond, Smith, Heisel, & McCroskey, 2001; Wanzer, Booth-Butterfield, & Gruber, 2004). And if you are a supervisor at work, combine positive messages with immediacy behaviors to enhance your likeability and credibility (Teven, 2007).