When arranging the meeting room, the person who should be directly across from the secretary is typically the chairman or president of the meeting. According to Robert's Rules of Order and traditional meeting setups, the secretary's desk or seat is placed near that of the chairman to facilitate communication and coordination during the meeting
. In formal meeting room layouts such as the boardroom style, the leader or facilitator (often the chairman) usually occupies the head of the table, and the secretary is seated nearby, often directly across or adjacent to the chairman to assist with documentation and procedural support
. This arrangement supports efficient meeting management and clear communication between the presiding officer and the secretary. Thus, the chairman or president should be seated directly across from the secretary in a meeting room setup.
