To date, I have taught about a dozen semesters worth of college level courses. Strangely, I have been both fascinated and baffled by the fact that my students seem to sit in the same seat or at least same general vicinity during every single class.
The very first day of class, seating is completely random. The second class period, they seem to find their spot. By the third time, they really have settled into ‘their’ spot. And from then on out, they sit in the exact same seat until the end of the semester.
Mind you, there are those occasional folks that throw a wrench into the unspoken organization of it all, plopping down in a spot that is ‘known’ to be someone else’s seat. I have heard other students say to them, “Hey, you’re sitting in my seat!”
I’ve asked the students why they do this, but as of yet, I have not received a satisfactory response.
So then I started thinking, how is this also true in the professional work environment? Do we become creatures of habit—forgetting to shake things up, insist upon variety, and look at things from alternative perspectives?
Or, circling back to the college-level classroom: Does sitting in the same spot every time actually serve as a means for maintaining a consistent environment—something comfortable and familiar? Something that can make the students ‘relax’ and then focus on working their brain, and seeing things from varied angles?
Why does this human behavior exist in students, and how does it translate to professionals? More important, does it serve us well? Or do we need to be cognizant of this pattern, and intentionally manipulate change to occur in our environments?
I don’t know the answer. Wondering your thoughts, dear readers.