Usually we managers are pretty conscious of what we say to employees. We try to be motivating, empowering and supportive. Yet while we have only the best intentions, we may unwittingly be giving off distinctly different signals with our body language.

I recently talked with body language expert Patti Wood about the subject, and she offered up several areas in which leaders commonly make mistakes and ways to correct our gaffes.

One way power is communicated is by space and territory, Wood says. “Space” being where you put your body and “territory” represented by office, desk or chair size.

“Managers make a mistake in taking up too little space or too much space,” she says.

An example of taking up too much space would be the manager who enters a person’s cubicle and approaches the person from the back or lays a hand on the person’s shoulder.

“A lot of managers see this as friendly or warm or showing they’re a pal,” Wood says. “They don’t realize that encroachment on somebody’s space and territory especially from the rear or towering above them or putting their hand on their shoulder are power signals.”

In many cases, a manager’s intention is translated as just the opposite. “Your intention is one thing and how it is received is completely different,” she says.

She also cautions managers to be aware of where they sit at meetings. Typically, many managers take the seat at the end of a conference room table. If you hold a high-level position, that’s a good choice, Wood says. However, if you’re a team lead rather than a department manager or vice president, for instance, the best position spatially would be to sit mixed in with your team, which brings your physically closer to them.

“A physical barrier acts as a social or emotional barrier as well,” she adds.

In the next newsletter, we’ll examine how your voice affects the signals you send.