Did you know that there are optimal seating positions for effective meetings, whether it be for business, personal or executive meetings for voluntary organisations?

These seating positions can lessen tension, get people working together and allow for productive conversations.

Best Seating Position for Informal One-on-One Meetings

Sit at right angles to each other.

It is the best position for stress-free conversations. In these positions you can turn to make eye contact when listening intently to what she/he has to say.

When you want to think about an answer, you can stare straight ahead to show you value their question. Then turn directly to them to answer.

You can still sit at right angles if the table is round.

How to do it? Get there early. Put a glass of water at right angle to yourself. Push any menus and condiments to the far corner. Most people will sit where the glass of water is placed.

Best Seating Position for Formal Group Meetings

When you host a formal meeting for either business or an Executive of a voluntary organisation, you may need to make subtle yet strategic seating arrangements. Where you seat each person in relation to others and yourself can markedly change the dynamic of the room and can dramatically affect the effectiveness of your meeting.

SIDE BY SIDE = 1/2 or 3/4
These are the ‘co-operation position’. It’s often taken naturally by those who intend to work on something together.

If participants are likely to be defensive or confrontational with each other, seat them side by side. Here adversaries are not facing each other. Confrontation is more awkward when close together.

THE CORNER POSITIONS = 5/4 or 3/1
These are great for those who get on well together and have something to jointly work on or present.

TRIANGLE POSITIONS = 5 opposite 1/2

Use this for a negotiation between two parties (two team members presenting to someone in senior management).

HEAD OF THE TABLE

This is the power position in any size meeting. You are automatically seen to be the host or main player.

Last Words

Where you seat people in relation to each other and yourself can make a meeting go more smoothly. You may find that using these subtle seating adjustments may make your meetings shorter. And everyone wants that.

Sources:

This article is my wording of information from Body Language experts – Ann Reinton, Image Consultant, Allan Pease (‘Body Language’ book) and the late Patsy Rowe (‘Business Etiquette’ book). Plus I have added some extra observations of my own.