We’ve spent a lot of time in conference rooms, and one of the most important things I’ve learned is that the layout of your meeting room can greatly affect the outcome.
It is absolutely essential to keep in this mind when planning your next event.
Without the right meeting room setup, you risk your participants not receiving the intended message from the speaker or getting the maximum benefit from the event.
A poor meeting room layout really can impact the outcomes of your session.
We know that different meeting room set-ups allow for different types of learning and audience participation.
When you’re planning your meeting room layout, your intentions for levels of participation and interaction should be at the forefront of your mind.
Choose a room that will help you achieve your objectives!
Set up a room so the greatest amount of attendees get an up close and personal experience!
One of my biggest pet peeves is meeting rooms that are wide and narrow but are set from the end and not the middle.
When the audience and the speaker are so far apart, it creates a major disconnect with the participants who are seated from the middle to the back of the room.
Regardless of the meeting layout, look at the space, and envision the room so the audience can have the maximum absorption of the presentation.
Audio-visual equipment is another important factor in meeting room layouts.
You want your attendees to experience maximum exposure to the content you’re delivering, so be sure they have a clear view of the presentation instead of the back of a monitor.
With these tips in mind, now is a good time to go over some layout options for your next meeting.
Here are some meeting room layouts to consider for your next event.
Boardroom Style
- Description: A single large table with chairs around it.
- Best For: Smaller meetings, executive discussions, brainstorming sessions, or strategy meetings where direct communication and collaboration are key.
U-Shape (horseshoe) Style
- Description: Tables are arranged in a U-shape, with chairs placed around the outside.
- Best For: Presentations, training sessions, or workshops that require group discussions and presentations. Allows the presenter to move within the U for easy interaction.
Theater (or Auditorium) Style
- Description: A tiered seating arrangement, often seen in lecture halls or large venues.
- Best For: Large-scale presentations, keynote speeches, or panel discussions where all attendees need to be able to see the stage or speaker clearly.
Chevron Style
- Description: Similar to theatre style, but the chairs are angled inward toward the speaker or screen.
- Best For: Large presentations where sightlines are important. This style helps focus attention on the presenter while still accommodating many participants.
Fishbone (or V-shape) Style
- Description: Tables are arranged in rows with each row forming a V or fishbone pattern, facing the front.
- Best For: Interactive presentations and workshops where it’s important for attendees to see both the speaker and each other.
Round Table Style
- Description: Multiple round tables arranged throughout the room.
- Best For: Group discussions, networking events, or informal brainstorming sessions.
Cocktail (or Standing) Style
- Description: No formal seating; instead, high tables are scattered around the room for standing attendees.
- Best For: Networking events, social gatherings, or receptions where mingling is encouraged and formal seating isn’t necessary.
Now that you know how important room layouts are when it comes to having great meetings with optimal impact, how will you plan the layout for your next meeting?
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