The Corner Office: Symbolic or Empowering for Leaders?

What happens when you have no office, or you’ve given up your office? Google and Zappos are two early adopters of the open workspace concept, where collaboration includes overhearing other peoples conversations. In the office design, there are other areas for solo or quiet meetings. But what if you not only gave up your office, you truly had no place to permanently sit?

This happened to a friend of mine in a K-8 school. She was explaining that 2015 was a tough year, not only because of the move to their new home, but because it happened during one of the most chaotic times at work. Encouraged by her staff, she gave up her office as principal to one of her staff members who needed to have closed-door conversations.

This left her “homeless” at work at a time when she was between homes, and it effected her psyche and ultimately her performance.

Why, I asked? Had she felt that she lost the respect of her colleagues by giving up her office? Her expression changed as she searched for the answer. And then she confessed that she was the problem. She couldn’t cope without a stable place to work, and as she floated around, it was impacting her self-assurance as a leader. In other words, to her, an office was not only a symbol of power for her staff at the school, but it was also symbolic for her. Having a “home at work” gave her the confidence she needed to make unwavering decisions. While she was homeless at work and living out of boxes until her things were unpacked in her new home, she questioned her own ability to lead and was uncertain of how she was being perceived.

So maybe there is a design flaw in Google’s model. Incidentally, this open concept is fairly controversial for employees, and it’s hard to imagine that one size fits every leader, too. Just because some leaders do not need an office, doesn’t mean it’s for everyone. Or maybe they haven’t really divulged their secret which is that they can work in a conference room all day.

I think the important message here is that we all need a home – even if it’s a temporary but clutter-free and quiet place we can rely on as our refuge or sanctuary as a leader. Or maybe we can work part time from home in our quiet corner office. To me, it’s extremely important to have a space that we can call our own.

Now, imagine how the millions of homeless people feel in America…