The Empty Chair

James R. Rector
Publisher, Profiles in Leadership Journal

Every meeting leaves someone out. Customers, employees on the front line, even quiet voices within the team. Decisions get made, but the missing perspective can come back to haunt you.

Amazon’s Jeff Bezos famously placed an empty chair in meetings to symbolize the customer. It was a reminder: before we decide, we must imagine what the absent voice would say.

You do not need to be Amazon to use this practice. Try leaving one chair empty in your next meeting and asking: What would our customer think? What would our competitor see? What would our quietest team member add if they spoke?

Leadership is not about filling every seat. It is about making sure the right voices are heard, even when they are not present.

At Home

Families can do the same. Ask: If Grandma were here, what advice would she give? If our youngest had a say, what would they want? It invites perspective that keeps decisions balanced.

Your question: Which absent voice most needs a seat at your table this week?

About the series: The 3-Minute Leader™ is a weekly micro-essay for emerging and promotable executives.