A company’s meeting room bespeaks the corporate culture like no other space in the business. Much like a formal dining room in a house, the conference room hosts banquets of information sharing and collaboration. It can be as formal or informal, traditional or edgy as the company leaders desire. Because clients may never see any other part of the facility, companies would do well to plan their meeting rooms wisely. How they are set up reflects on the company image for better or for worse.
Does your conference room broadcast the best image of your business to your clients and employees? Keep reading to find out.
What’s in a Name?
By naming your meeting room(s), you impart a sense of corporate personality. For instance, if your business makes or sells outdoor gear, you might like to refer to your meeting spaces with names like "Aspen Grove," or "Rushing River." Monikers tell people what’s important to your company. Leaving the rooms numbered and not named suggests a somewhat cold or itinerate nature of the business, as though it won’t personalize its rooms in case the occupancy of the building may change. It’s like not painting the walls and hanging pictures, so you can easily get your rental deposit back at the end of the lease.
Decor: Traditional, Modern, Cafe or Edgy?
How you furnish the room will resolutely divulge your company’s image.
Traditional: A room with a long, rectangular table and plush chairs shouts, "We’re here to stay, and the boss is The Man (even if he’s a she). We have the deep pockets of stability, and we color within the lines."
Modern: Lighter, more sleek furnishings speak of a nimble company going forward. It says, "We won’t rest on our laurels. The future is ours to seize."
Cafe: A room with no central table but many comfortable seats and coffee tables with a kitchenette for food and beverage service declares, "We work together like a family. Brainstorm and stop fussing with your tie. It’s stained but we don’t care. In fact, why are you even wearing one?"
Edgy: A room with futuristic, oddly-shaped tables and chairs that offer little comfort but stylistic innovation articulates, "We’re avant-garde. We invent the future. The past is passé. But don’t settle in, you might be over-challenged in this company."
Table Shape Almost Says It All
Rectangle: The classic long table with one seat at the head may be the only way you can go within the allotted square footage of your room, no matter your preferences. Even so, the shape promotes hierarchy more than collaboration.
U-Shape: Tables formed in a U design make it easier for everyone to view a presentation. Plus it brings all the participants closer together for discussions and collaboration. For those one-on-one client meetings, the table allows you to sit across from each other, negating the subtle psychology of alpha/beta seating positions.
Round: A round table is great for social equality, but can be less favorable for communications as people across the table may be too far away.
Setting up your meeting spaces requires a lot of thought if you want to project the right image for your business. Of course, if you need multiple conference rooms, you can furnish each one according to a different function and aspect of the company’s overall personality.
If it’s time to update your rooms, Expert Relocation Systems can help you move out your old furniture, then bring in the new pieces. We can even set up your whole room for you in the process. Contact us today for a free consultation and a free quote.