The Psychology of Seats: How To Boost Your Impact & Influence At Work

This week on the Squiggly Careers podcast, Helen and Sarah borrow brilliance from an unexpected source — the psychology of seats. Inspired by a conversation about how we choose where to sit, Helen talks about how your seating choices can shape the way you feel, behave, and influence others at work. From safe seats that help us feel in control to power positions in meetings and even virtual seating on video calls, this episode reveals how something as simple as your seat can affect confidence, inclusion, and collaboration. You’ll leave with small, practical shifts to help you show up differently — and boost your impact and influence at work.

Episode 506

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⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 Introduction & Announcement

01:54 Borrowing brilliance from the psychology of seats

03:54 Why where you sit says more about you than you think

07:54 Seat safety — comfort, confidence, and control

12:34 Power seats — what your meeting position communicates

15:54 Round tables, rectangles, and creating collaboration

20:04 The height effect

20:54 No-seat meetings

22:54 Virtual seats

29:54 Inclusion, confidence, and creating space for others

🎯 What You’ll Learn

• Why your seat can shape your confidence and influence
• How seating choices affect team dynamics and inclusion
• How to use “seat psychology” to build better meetings and connections
• Simple ways to change where (and how) you sit to boost your impact

📚 Resources Mentioned

• Learning Cog: https://www.learningcog.com
• The Long Win by Kath Bishop: bit.ly/4he0Rt4

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