Back row on the right side, window seat.I do this because it is the most relaxing space on the plane.
There is more space to spread out because most people cram themselves closest to the exit door.
I'm not caught up in the drama of overhead compartments.
I'm closer to the bathroom.
And the Tasmanian Devil is not sitting behind me kicking my seat.
But looking at it from an HR viewpoint, it's the best vantage point. I can see everything that is going on. I can see the passengers overwhelmed by their family situations. I can see the passengers with the drinking problems. I can see the passengers that cannot stay organized and have to get into their overhead bag every 15 minutes. I can also see that food and drinks are being served, call buttons are getting answered, and most importantly the plane is in the air and headed in the right direction.
I see all of this from my back seat.
So HR, what's more important: a seat at the table (where you announce I'm here now deal with me) or a backseat on the plane (taking it all in and staying out of the way while people are getting their jobs done)?
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But, can you relax in that back seat? Many planes have seats that do not recline in the last row.
Does that mean, like HR, that you are always have to be upright and paying attention to everything that is going on?
Paul,
Interesting post. I agree wholeheartedly that often the best HR is the kind no one ever sees. It's not about being at the table. It's about empowering managers to be better leaders, and help their teams be successful.
For me, the analogy falls apart a bit there. Because in your seat in the back corner, you're observing but not doing anything. You're not alerting the attendants to concerns they may have missed. You're not coaching them on how to deal with problematic situations.
I'm all for behind-the-scenes HR. For letting managers get the glory. But if we just observe and never coach and guide (and dare I say, lead), why does an organization even need us at all?
Cheers!
Chris
You're a brave man. It gives me claustrophobia just to think about that seat. I sit in 1A or 1D every time. I like people to look at the back of my head. Hope that isn't an indicator of my leadership style.
Interesting analogy, Paul, thanks for making our brains work on this one.
As an aside, I too check my bags every time. There is something so freeing about walking on the plane with just a book and not worrying about jockeying for overheads or cramping my legs by having a carry-on under the seat in front of me.
Ok...onto the heart of the matter. I'm with Chris in how I hope we would be "seated" and that we must engage proactively as well as observe effectively. I would say your seat is almost ideal, just shift from being on the window, to being on the aisle, metaphorically. From the aisle, you can step up and into situations easily, as well as have some effective discussions with folks in the galley.
It takes regular, consistent training of managers to keep us looped in BEFORE there is an issue, and until that happens, having a viewpoint as you describe is an excellent vantage point to watch, and jump up when duty calls.
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