In team meetings does where you sit matter?

[Anonymous]

Are people really rank conscious about seating arrangements during meetings? I ask because I tend to sit in the same spot each week and I have noticed comments being made about it.

[Anonymous]

Of course it matters, especially if you choose the same seat every.single.time.

Change things up. Be flexible. Get a different viewpoint-literally.

[Anonymous]

OP here, Honestly, this is one more reason I think I am more cut out to be self employed. There are so many office politics to digest and now I have to add seating politics to the list too?! I've sat next to the boss during the last two meetings and people have taken note. I swear there was no message behind where I sat, the seat just happened to be closest to the door (we have a new conference room and the setup is different). The massive insecurities that exist in people boggles my mind.

[Anonymous]

I sit facing into the building- window glare bothers me.

[Anonymous]

I sit facing the windows. It’s a boring meeting and I daydream out the window.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it matters. People who have the most to discuss at the meeting (usually the senior employees) should sit closest to the boss.
By all means, if you are one of the biggest contributors to the team and have the most to report, sit by the boss.
If not, you look strange and out of place to senior people. Basically no self-awareness.
Lack of self-awareness can stall a career or make you a less desirable person to work with.
-20+ year Senior Manager

[Anonymous]

Sure. If I want to make sure that I’m running or controlling a meeting, then I make sure that I’m seated at the head of the table. Of course, this assumes that it would not be out of place for me to run the meeting.

[Anonymous]

this is very insightful and I will take the advice! Thank you very much!

[Anonymous]

I always face the windows so I can watch the hawks circling.

[Anonymous]

I sit in the same seat every time, which is also the seat I sat in when I was interviewed.

[Anonymous]

I’m a manager and I really don’t care where anyone sits at any type of meeting.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the meeting. A small team meeting, who cares. A slightly more formal meeting, the chair sits at the head of the table, and if there is a table and seats around the wall, the more senior people sit around the table. If you're not sure where to sit, sit against the wall and let the, invite you to the table.

[Anonymous]

The person leading the meeting sits furthest from the door facing the door. That is power positioning from Japanese samurai days when leaders were cautious about attackers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sure. If I want to make sure that I’m running or controlling a meeting, then I make sure that I’m seated at the head of the table. Of course, this assumes that it would not be out of place for me to run the meeting.

Female manager here. I sit in the middle of the table, to be as close to everyone as possible. I find that a few (invariably) male employees with big egos often sit at the head of the table and try to run the meetings from there. Instead, they make themselves look silly in our office culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure. If I want to make sure that I’m running or controlling a meeting, then I make sure that I’m seated at the head of the table. Of course, this assumes that it would not be out of place for me to run the meeting.

Female manager here. I sit in the middle of the table, to be as close to everyone as possible. I find that a few (invariably) male employees with big egos often sit at the head of the table and try to run the meetings from there. Instead, they make themselves look silly in our office culture.

Same here. If I'm running the meeting, I try to sit in the middle. If I'm not, I'll sit anywhere (but try to avoid the head).