Overview Of The Conference Table
As the main focal point for most meeting rooms, the conference table is definitely a big deal. They are an appropriate area for communication and idea generation with a workforce. This article will explore a few more details on why conference tables are beneficial to business.
Advantages Of The Conference Table
In today’s workplace, there are fewer cubicles and more workspaces that accommodate any task at hand. The anatomy of meeting rooms is no exception to this change, as the conference table is the key gathering spot for exchanging ideas, sharing debates, and building relationships with your fellow employees.
There’s also plenty of theories surrounding the psychology behind conference table layouts and seating arrangements in meeting rooms. For example, installing multiple high-quality custom conference tables can make a lasting, positive impression for your businesses as part of your overall branding program. The way the conference table is arranged also affects the unspoken power dynamic among your colleagues and can change the mood of the meeting you’re having. Awareness of these insights may help you influence outcomes and set the tone of the meeting. The following sections cover the three main table arrangements and the different purposes they serve.
The U
A U-shaped meeting table brings the focus to the open side of the table, sacrificing a large portion of the surface area and overall seating. This design, useful for presentations and video conferences, allows a presenter to highlight what they are presenting and to engage directly with any viewer. Those around the table become more conscious of what is in front of them, thus contributing to a more information-based, productive atmosphere. This arrangement is seen as a conscious choice for the company to utilize space more effectively.
The Circle
Round and elliptical tables are great for collaboration, customer interactions, and collecting input. They are most useful during face-to-face meetings with employees as they put the other individuals at ease by giving each person an equal place at the table. However, there are a few downsides to them, as there can be a lack of personal surface area for notepads, laptops, etc. Table size also creates a concerning dilemma: if the table is too large it can be hard to speak across from it, but a table that is too small may seem uncomfortably intimate.
The Rectangle
Long-form rectangular tables (and the rounded corner version known as ‘racetrack’ conference tables) are the best choice for critical decision making. They help reinforce management hierarchy, where typically the group leader sits at one end of a long office conference table. This allows them to see every person seated at the table and establishes a psychological presence that reinforces a position of power. The person at the opposite end of the table typically sits in an opposing judgment position.
The Right Conference Table
According to Sare Mosely of Highfive, there are four important elements to consider when choosing conference tables: form, function, fit and fashion.
- Form relates to the arrangement of the tables (U-shape, circle, triangle, rectangle, etc.).
- Function highlights the utility of the table, whether it be for collaboration, interaction, or presentation.
- Fit relies on the physical and spatial designation for the table, where adjustments in size need to be taken into consideration.
- Fashion is all about the aesthetic qualities around the table (color, height, material, etc.), which are meant to align with the overall company culture.
Check out Haworth’s collection of tables to find the right choice for you!
