As intern season comes to an end, I’ve started to reminisce back on my time as an intern and the best advice I’ve ever received. I was reminded of this piece of advice because I noticed one peculiar trend that’s terribly common among interns, and even new hires.
The trend I’m referring to is how junior employees often opt, whether out of politeness or an intrinsic attachment to the workplace hierarchy, to sit on the outer edge of meetings rather than at the main table. No one tells them to not sit at the meeting table but they seem to bear a sense of guilt from taking a seat away from one of the people they deem to be more important to the meeting.
Interns are generally prompt and thus it’s common that an intern will be the first one to arrive to a meeting. This makes this particular behavior even sillier. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked into meetings and seen an intern or junior employee sitting in a chair in the corner alone like they were punished. Sitting in the corner should be a punishment reserved for latecomers!
When I started my first job I was as guilty of this as anyone. Then one day a boss of mine sternly changed that and made it mandatory that I sit at the table. The craziest part is that my first instinct was to question his request.
But doesn’t (insert name of important director) need a seat?
Looking back it feels foolish but at the time, as a junior employee, I was speaking genuinely. Luckily, my boss’s response was perfect.
If they wanted a seat, they would be here. If they want a seat in the future, they’ll get here earlier. Everyone in this meeting deserves to contribute as much as anyone else. This meeting belongs to all of us.
You’re not less important to the meeting because you’re newer. In fact, the meeting is actually more meaningful to you since you’re absorbing more information. There’s a reason the “teacher’s pet” sits in the front of a classroom. It’s easier to learn when you are front and center.
We need to start encouraging this behavior. Just as my old boss did for me, I’m going to make strides to encourage newer employees to take their rightful spot at the table.
Who knows, they just may see something that our tired eyes don’t.
