Does everyone in your family or in-laws always sit in the same spot at the dinner table or in the living room by the TV? If so, you’ll definitely recognize this phenomenon.
People love routine and familiarity. This applies at home, but also at work. As a new colleague, in this case a Product Owner, you take a seat in a ‘chair’ previously occupied by someone else, who had their own way of working. Colleagues might say things like: “The previous Product Owner always did this or that in a certain way. We could always count on him to take care of this. He did this, and then we did that.”
This is completely normal because change often brings resistance. But when you’re new, remember: you are not your predecessor. You were hired to bring in your expertise and insights. You are allowed, actually, you are expected to put your own spin on things.
What I always keep in mind is that I take the seat, but first, I move it to the other side of the room. This way, I still take on the role, but I fill it in differently. It shows that I take it seriously, that I act immediately, and that I make it clear I am forging my own path. You sit in your predecessor’s chair, but you bring a fresh perspective from the start.
Let’s go back to the in-laws’ metaphor for a moment. Would you dare sit in your father-in-law’s chair? Or have you ever tried? What happened? Did it create an awkward atmosphere, or did you notice exchanged glances? The atmosphere shifts immediately—and the same thing happens when you step into a new role.
By the way, you might want to try this with your in-laws sometime and see what happens. Just be transparent about it! The same applies at work. Clearly communicate what you will and won’t do, your approach, how long things will take, your expected outcomes, and how you plan to get there. Open communication prevents misunderstandings and helps your team build trust in your way of working.
After a while, you can replace your predecessor’s chair with your own. People will no longer talk about how things used to be; instead, they will look forward and trust your approach as soon as they see results.
Be bold. Take the chair, move it, sit down with confidence, and get to work. Shake things up, show who you are, share your approach, be open to feedback, and brace yourself to achieve goals together with your team, no matter what chair you’re in.
So yes, you can absolutely sit in the same furniture, but make sure you move it first and make it your own.
