Tuesday, November 11, 2025  Happy Veterans Day.  If you or someone you love served…Thank You.

Some of us were front-row try-hard kids; leaning in a little too eagerly, hands always in the air, asking too many questions, secretly proud when we got the answers right. Others were back-row thinkers; literally zoomed out taking things in broadly, observing the whole classroom, and often connecting the dots between the answers, the questions, and the patterns that weren’t immediately obvious to everyone. Both approaches shaped how we learned — and they still matter in the workplace today.

When interviewing job candidates, I often ask a simple question: “Where did you prefer to sit in school?” It’s not a typical interview question, but it can be a window into how they engage, how they think, and where their natural strengths lie. Front-row types thrive on depth. They dig into processes, love the details, and want to understand how and why things work. They’re the experts who can deliver exceptional results in a specific domain — the “rockstars” of their area. Depth of knowledge gets them hired, and for many, deep expertise remains their greatest contribution. Not every front-row expert should be promoted into management; their true gift is mastery rather than oversight.

Back-row thinkers, on the other hand, often bring perspective. They have the patience to step back, connect threads across projects, and anticipate the bigger picture. They notice relationships between the front-row details and broader strategy. They synthesize.  Over time, this breadth of understanding becomes critical for leadership, coordination, and mentorship. Breadth of knowledge often gets you promoted, as it allows you to see the system beyond your own domain.

Hiring and team-building decisions benefit from paying attention to these dynamics. Do you need a specialist who will master a domain and produce exceptional results? Look for the front-row mindset. Do you need someone to synthesize, coordinate, and connect disparate pieces? The back-row thinker may be a better fit. Understanding how curiosity, attention to detail, and perspective shape performance helps ensure that people are placed where they can succeed; not just where the next promotion exists.

Both approaches are essential, and the strongest teams balance front-row expertise with back-row perspective. Recognizing natural tendencies — and allowing careers to evolve in ways that fit those tendencies — creates organizations that are both productive and resilient.

Until Next Time,

Mary Schuster
Chief Knowledge Officer
October Research, LLC