New research shows that King Arthur was on to something when he sat his knights at a round table.
The table at which you sit can bring out one of two contrasting attitudes, according to a new study by researchers from the universities of Alberta and British Columbia in Canada.
Sitting around a circular table facilitates a sense of belonging to a group, and results in a less argumentative attitude among those seated. Conversely, when people sit in a square or row, this supposedly draws out people’s individualism.
Canadian researchers had volunteers sit at different-shaped tables and analysed how they responded to different advertisements. Those seated in a circle or oval were more positive about those advertisements that represented groups of family members or friends, whereas those seated in a square or rectangle identified with those that represented individuals.
“The geometric shape of a seating arrangement can impact consumers by priming one of two fundamental needs – the need to belong or the need to be unique,” the study’s authors, Juliet Zhu and Jennifer Argo, wrote.
“Circular-shaped seating arrangements prime a need to belong while angular shaped seating arrangements prime a need to be unique.”
The study, which was published in the Journal of Consumer Research, could have implications for the way that staff participate in a meeting. If you want to encourage a sense of unity and cohesion, try sitting everyone in a circle at your next monthly meeting.
