Where to sit in a Meeting?

You might not find this in a business book. Or discussed at a lecture. Nor at work.

Yet, when entering a boardroom for an important meeting, the question of where to sit is not necessarily a trivial one. Look, I do not wish to exaggerate. Many factors (content, preparation, appearance, language, posture etc etc) are often more important. However, choosing the right seat in a room also matters.

“Surprisingly“, I have an opinion on the matter, and I share my experience, well also to learn about different views.

Obviously, the position to choose varies depending on personal objectives:

• If you aim for rapid disappearance or are worried of evacuation procedures, I recommend a seat near the door.

• Looking for distraction: sit opposite the window.

• Not on a diet? Sit next to the cabinet with food, if available and discreetly reachable.

However, this post is dedicated to those who want to have influence during a meeting, exhort authority even if initially they might not have the formal power. Like – I have been in that position many times – if you are a consultant, or a newcomer to a company.