ABSTRACT
In this chapter we explore the concept of proximity – what it is, how we process it, and how it affects our management practices. Proximity is very much at the core of this book and will become increasingly important as more organizations move into the world of hybrid/remote work. Starting around a half century ago the definition began to change. The meaning went from one that was primarily focused on physical distance to one that was more focused on perception and emotion. Management began to focus on developing a sense of connectedness through just being within the same physical space. It was also around this time that we began to realize that these feelings of connectedness could be achieved over physical distance through the use of electronic tools, and that the amount of proximity that we have achieved affects the team’s overall efficiency and effectiveness.
