Objectives:
1. To make people more aware of how physical layout can affect the power dynamics of meetings.

2. To bring out people's "street smart" knowledge of intimidation tactics, in a way that validates them.

3. To have some fun.



Activity:
1. Opening: At a point of relatively low energy in the session, without warning, start to use a technique of furniture politics. e.g.

• take a seat at the opposite end of the room
  
• stand over someone, looking down at them for a minute or two
  
• pull your chair back from the table so you are exposed, and ask everyone to stand up at their place.
  

2. First Brainstorm: Describe what you are doing, and ask if people have noticed any other ways that room layout and furniture have affected your authority/ power during the week. Record on flip chart without comment.

3. Short lecturette: Introduce the term "politics of furniture", explaining that it implies room layout is never neutral in power terms, and that everyday situations from the dinner table to the courtroom are places where these power dynamics are played out in all our lives.

4. Second Brainstorm: Ask people to look at the items already listed in regard to the course, and to describe ways that these same tactics have been or could be used in their encounters with management in the workplace. This should generate some funny ideas, which you can summarize on a second flip chart.


5. Summary: Post the two flip charts, and ask people to imagine that they are preparing with a local union committee for a meeting with management. How would they summarize the "top ten" (or top five if you're short of time) tactics in the politics of furniture?



Notes

1. Lighting

• try to have light come from behind you, to shine in the other person's eyes.
  
  

2. Desks

• work as a shield, especially if they are large
  
• either smoke people out from behind the desk, or move your chair up against it so that you're even. You might put your chair out to the side, to force the other person to turn away from their shielf to face you. If it's a big issue, sit on the corner of the desk and look down at the person... they'll move pretty soon.
  

3. Chairs

• armchairs are more powerful than open chairs. If you can tuck your knees under a table and have space to write, you have more power than a person with knees exposed who is writing on their lap.
  

4. Closeness

• you can certainly make someone nervous by invading their space bubble, or by doing something inappropriate like shouting at very close range. The study of distance is called "proxemics".
  

5. Height

• if you want more power, stand up and look down. If you want to equalize power, have your eye level the same as the other person's. This has implications too for the way we lay out rooms for local union meetings.
  
  
  

Reference

Take a look at the discussion "Using Space: The Politics of Furniture" on pages 116-118 of the book Educating for a Change. In particular, the tips on using space democratically can be of use for you in sharing power as an instructor.