Who is who around the table presentation

Who is who around the table?And change it.

A presentation about nonverbal communication related to where we sit around tables.

silentcommunication.org

Where do you tend to place yourself at the dinner table at home? At meetings at work? At a

café/restaurant? Give it a thought.

Roles around the table: You


Roles around the table: Staff meeting


The power end is the upper end of the table and collects those with power and those in desire for power (green).



Along the sides people with less power/desire for power (blue) place themselves further away from the power end...



...and mute observers in the lower corners (smaller blobs to the left). There may be ”visitors” who places themselves a bit away from the table.



The antagonists tend to gather at the opposite side (red) to the power end.



Expect more initiatives and decisions from the power end,

hard arguments from the antagonists end, mediating middle sections and silence from observers and outsiders.

Roles around the table: Dynamics


Changing the order


Changing the order: Line of fire

Opposite positions places the participants in each others lines of fire.


Try an angle to avoid a line of fire if you want less confrontation.

Changing the order: Line of fire


Changing the order: Negotiations

Frontwar: This setting is confrontative, with one part on each side. Will build up tension and feed conflicts. Usual in negotiations, but not very constructive.


Dialogue: Mixed sides are less confrontative, with no obvious fronts. Creates a feeling of ”we” rather than ”we against them” and makes way for more win-win solutions.

Changing the order: Negotiations


Changing the order: Furniture

Changing chairs: Chairs with high back and arm support increases the (feeling of) power and comfortable chairs feeds a positive attitude.


Changing tables: Switch to round tables to even out the power and roles around the table.



But mind the higher threshold when it comes to break the ice, and that it takes higher social skills to control the group dynamic.

Changing tables: Switch to round tables to even out the power and roles around the table.



Read the full article and learn more about body language and nonverbal communiction at:


Who is who around the table presentation

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