A method of operating a robotic system involves servoing a multitude of joints of the robotic system in a first joint velocity space. The movement of the multitude of joints in the first velocity space moves a remote center or an end effector of the robotic system. The method further involves floating the multitude of joints in a second velocity space. The movement of the multitude of joints in the second velocity space moves the end effector or the remote center, respectively. The method further involves controlling motion of the multitude of joints in a third velocity space. The movement of the multitude of joints in the third velocity space does not move the end effector and does not move the remote center.