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

1. Who is who around the table?
And change it.
A presentation about nonverbal
communication related to where we sit
around tables.
silentcommunication.org

2. 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
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3. Roles around the table: Staff meeting
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4. The power end is the upper end of the table and
collects those with power and those in desire for
power (green).
Roles around the table: Staff meeting
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5. Along the sides people with less power/desire for
power (blue) place themselves further away from
the power end...
Roles around the table: Staff meeting
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6. ...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.
Roles around the table: Staff meeting
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7. The antagonists tend to gather at the opposite
side (red) to the power end.
Roles around the table: Staff meeting
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8. 
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
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9. 
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
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10. silentcommunication.org

11. Changing the order
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12. Changing the order: Line of fire
Opposite positions
places the
participants in each
others lines of fire.
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13. Try an angle to avoid
a line of fire if you
want less
confrontation.
Changing the order: Line of fire
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14. 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.
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15. 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
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16. 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.
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17. 
Changing tables: Switch
to round tables to even
out the power and roles
around the table.
Changing the order: Furniture
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18.  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.
Changing the order: Furniture
silentcommunication.org

19. Read the full article and learn more about body language
and nonverbal communiction at:
silentcommunication.org