A smile is a strong sign of a friendly and open attitude and a willingness to communicate. It is a positive, silent sign sent with the hope the other person will smile back. When you smile, you show you have noticed the person in a positive way. The result? That person will usually smile back. You might not realize a closed position is the cause of many conversational problems. A common closed position is sitting with your arms and legs crossed and your hand covering your mouth or chin. This is often called the 'thinking pose'. Ask yourself this question: Are you going to interrupt someone who appears to be deep in thought? This position gives off 'stay away' signs and prevents your main 'sign sender' (your mouth) from being seen by others looking for inviting conversational signs. The open body position is most effective when you place yourself within communicating distance of the other person—that is, within about five feet. Take care, however, not to enter someone's 'personal space' by getting too close, too soon. Leaning forward a little while a person is talking shows your interest and how you are listening to what the person is saying. By doing this, you are saying: I hear what you're saying, and I'm interested in—keep talking! Often people will lean back with their hands over their mouth, chin, or behind their head in the 'thinking' pose. This position gives off signs of judgment, doubt, and lack of interest from the listener. Since most people do not feel comfortable when they think they are being judged, this leaning-back position serves to prevent the speaker from continuing. In many cultures the most common form. of first contact between two people is a handshake. Be the first to extend your hand in greeting. Couple this with a friendly 'Hello', a nice smile, and your name and you have made the first step to open the lines of communication. Eye contact should be natural, not forced or overdone. Direct eye contact shows you are listening to the other person and that you want to know about her. A person smiles to show______.