I’m a back row sitter.
I’ve completed countless
unofficial surveys
of why people sit in the back.
It isn’t the reason
why
many presenters
or front row sitters
think
we sit in the back.
Most people think
we sit in the back
because we’re unengaged.
We don’t want to be there.
We don’t want to participate.
We will likely sneak out early.
There ARE the rare folks
who sit in the back row
for that reason.
But often,
as it is in my case,
the reason is
the exact opposite.
We want to see
EVERYTHING.
I like to view
the entire presentation,
which means watching the presenter
but also watching
the audience reaction.
I want to know
who else is talking
and I don’t want
to show the presenter
the back of my head
while I’m identifying these people.
That’s rude.
I joke that
this need to see everything
is my gunfighter response.
I want to identify
the dangers in the room
so I sit
with my back against the wall.
Many people have
this same need.
Don’t assume
the people in the back
aren’t engaged.
They are likely the people
paying the most attention
…to EVERYTHING.