The story of the round table in the meeting room

I used to think that the meeting room was just a functional space. There was a long table, enough chairs for everyone, and a place reserved for the boss at the head of the table. Each meeting was like a report. The speaker was reserved, the listener was distant. But then one day, the familiar long table was replaced by a round table. Smaller, simpler, but it carried something very different. There was no more physical distance between the leader and the employee, no more position of power and shyness. We sat on the same level, facing each other like true colleagues. And from that moment, I understood: a table can change the way people listen, connect, and create value together.

1. The first meeting with a round table in the meeting room

The first meeting with the round table, I still remember the strange feeling as soon as I entered the room. There was no longer the familiar long table with fixed seats. The head of the table was for the boss, and employees like me sat on either side. Instead, there was a simple round table, everyone sat in a circle, on the same level.

I was a little surprised to see my boss already sitting there. Not in the center, not different. Just one person among others. I suddenly felt lighter, closer.

Throughout the meeting, everyone’s eyes easily met. I saw genuine listening, nods of agreement, and easy smiles. For the first time, I didn’t feel “small” in a meeting. At this round table, everyone was the same. And for the first time, I felt like I was truly a part of it. (Unboxing Proce’s 4 million-dollar meeting rooms).

2. The heart of change in the meeting room

To me, that round table is not just a piece of furniture in the meeting room. It seems to carry a story. A power that changes the way we connect with each other. The table is not big, but wide enough for everyone to sit close together, feeling the real closeness. The table top is made of warm brown wood, smooth and shiny as if it was carefully cleaned every day. Every time you touch it, you can feel the sophistication and warmth spreading.

There is no head of the table, nor a chair. All is just a regular circle, absolutely balanced. In the middle, a small, pretty flower vase, simple but suddenly makes the space more friendly. Like a gentle invitation “let’s sit here together, listen and share”.

The first time I sat down, I could feel the difference. The back of the chair was no longer facing any individual but facing everyone. I saw my colleagues’ eyes looking directly at each other rather than at screens or papers. I felt recognized and respected. No one here was an outsider, no one was forgotten.

That round table, in my eyes, is a solid circle of connection. Every word from any position echoes evenly, spreading throughout the space. There are no hidden corners, no way to escape everyone’s gaze or attention. Here, we are not just sitting together. We are truly connected, truly accompanying each other.

3. Changes in communication and sharing

For the first time, I saw a young employee – who had always been silent during previous meetings – boldly speak up. Without beating around the bush or being embarrassed, he expressed his opinion in a surprisingly natural way. And the special thing was, no one interrupted, no one frowned. Everyone listened attentively.

I found that candid feedback from employees was no longer blocked by shyness or fear of being judged. The atmosphere in meetings was “liberated” from all invisible barriers. I also felt like I wanted to listen to others. Not out of obligation, but because I was genuinely interested in what they had to say.

Even the boss has changed. It is no longer the stern voice from the head of the table like before. Instead, it is open-ended questions, encouraging nods. Sometimes he even quietly writes something down in a notebook. I remember one time, the chairman smiled and gently said: “Sitting like this, I can feel everyone’s breathing.” That sentence made me pause, because for the first time, I realized we were really listening to each other. Talking like people of the same age. Not just a simple report session like usual. (Window position and impact on emotions in the meeting room).

4. It’s not just a table – it’s a cultural transformation

More than just a table, for me it was the beginning of a silent but profound transformation in the culture of the entire organization. The round table, which seemed to be just a change in shape, became a symbol of a new spirit: “togetherness, no hierarchy”. Since its introduction, the meeting atmosphere is no longer as tense as before. Instead, there is open sharing, opinions are sincerely expressed and fully listened to.

The magic of the table is that it doesn’t stop at formal meetings. Whenever we need to discuss ideas or even just have a chat in the morning, everyone naturally gathers in a circle. It’s as if everyone understands that when we sit on the same level, what is created is not just a solution. It’s trust, connection, and growing together.

Conclude

That round table not only changed the way we met. It also changed the way we looked at each other. From being names on a list of personnel. We began to become people with voices, with listening and with real connections. The space changed, the thinking also shifted. When no one was sitting “higher” or “lower”, new ideas began to sprout. Candor was no longer a risk, but became the material of creativity and trust. It may be just a table, but sometimes, it is the smallest things that silently rewrite the culture of an entire group. That circle, is the starting point.