How People Sit in Meetings and What it Really Means

Posted on Published by Nate Bolt

Collaboration with illustrator bad-ass Matt Huynh who I’ve been trying to work with since our James Victore dinner series. Big thanks to Matt from ShowerHacks and my fellow Bookface compatriots who communicated meeting research for this – Chelsea, Kate, Tim, JZ, Barton, Gina, Eric Lefkofsky and Blaise. Starring Barry.

How people sit in meetings and what it really means
ADDICT - Both my phone and laptop are squarely facing me and turned on. I'm never leaving the internet.
ARM OVER CHAIR BACK It's important that both of us understand how comfortable I feel here. Like REALLY comfortable.
BRAINSTORM MANIAC - I took this one UX workshop and now look at all my post-its god damnit why won't you collaborate with me
ARM OVER CHAIR BACK & LEGS CROSSED Do you have any idea how long I've worked here?
DAYDREAMER - I'd rather be somewhere else. You know it. I know it. But at least I'm at your meeting.
FEED ME - Instead of eating on my time I thought I'd eat on your time. Oh were you hungry too. Shhhh watch me eat.
LAPTOP AT AN ANGLE. HALF SHUT. - I want to get off the internet and pay attention to you. There is hope for me. Help.
KNEELING ON CHAIR - Look I'm so little I can fold my legs under me. Now is a good time to think about how you can't.
NOTE-TAKER - I turned my screen because I desperately want you to see that I'm taking notes for this.
PACING - I'm either jacked up on caffeine or I consider myself too smart to think seated. Or both.
POWER PLAYER - You know who has a laptop? My admin has a laptop.
SLOUCHER - I'd rather be somewhere else. You know it. I know it. But at least I'm in your meeting.
UNICORN 1930'S PUPIL POSTURE - I'm facing you, siting straight, with no internet, and I'm actually paying attention to you. Nobody has done this in 20 years.
WASTED - Everyone wishes they would see this in a meeting. The truth is few of us have ever seen this. Here's to hoping.

Did I miss any? See how many you incorporate into one meeting. For more of this nonsense, check out the best survival knife What it Really Means series of posts on here, see some of my weird videos sorted by popularity, view the Instagram craziness, or just doowhachalike.