Show warmth without moving closer

You can be close without moving closer. Nonverbal immediacy is about felt availability; physical distance is only one input. Why chasing backfires When someone steps away, their body may be restoring a comfortable zone. If you follow, even kindly, you remove the adjustment they just made. The interaction can become a pursuit pattern: one person seeks room, the other seeks connection, and both feel misunderstood. The better mix Use stable distance, open angle, softer vocal pace, brief eye contact, and visible listening. These cues reduce psychological distance while preserving body territory. In a hybrid meeting, the same principle applies through…

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