SUBTEXTof the board who is aware of the cachet such a position gives
and wants to appear approachable. In that case, he or she will
often take a center position at the side of the table. However,
this democratic move is usually defeated by the others who range
themselves alongside the leader in decreasing order of importance,
much as the knights did around King Arthur.
OFFICE SPACE
A knowledge of the byplay of seating arrangements is important
in office politics. How does the boss sit in relation to a client?
Should you use a desk or a couch or two chairs at a coffee table?
A desk can serve as a protective device to keep the client at
a distance and assert just who is in charge here. This is the
boss's territory, and the client is here on sufferance. It's best to
use this "protective" desk to sit behind if you want to send a
subtext of formality with no levity, no equality.
If you wish to reduce the formality, the client's chair should
be placed at the side of the desk, with only the corner between
the two of you. This is a more comfortable arrangement, and it
cuts the interacting space down to an intimate distance.
You can be even more informal by getting away from the desk
altogether. For just this reason, many business offices have a
couch, a low coffee table, and visitors' chairs. Discussing business
in this setting sends a subtext of equality.
If both people choose the couch to sit on, the positioning of
their bodies, whether they incline toward each other or away,
sends clues about their relationship. One arm along the back of
the couch, the body inclined toward the other, sends a subtext
of involvement and interest. Inclining the body away from the