Belonging cues language

Belonging cues are behaviors that create safe connection in groups. They include, among others, proximity, eye contact, energy, mimicry, turn taking, attention, body language, vocal pitch, consistency of emphasis, and whether everyone talks to everyone else in the group. Like any language, belong cues can’t be reduced to an isolated moment but rather consist of steady pulse of interactions within a social relationship. Their function is to answer the ancient ever-present questions glowing in our brains: Are we safe here? What’s our future with these people? Are there dangers lurking?

Belonging cues posses three basic qualities:

  1. Energy: They invest in the exchange that is occuring.
  2. Individualization: They treat the person as unique and valued.
  3. Future orientation: They signal the relationship will continue.

Ref: The Culture Code, Daniel Coyle