After 13 years of drudgery and files, office politics, dressing downs and backstabbings, dealing with trash clients, and being overworked half to death you’ve finally made it. The capitalistic dream of Success is coming true.
You’re a high ranking Manager at last, and not just any Manager, one of the true power players.
Aside from a few dictators from HQ, you run a huge part of the show at your office building now (You have about 50 other goons and lackeys). However, your power isn’t absolute, there’s a Nazi Germany style system where there’s unnecessary duplication of roles so you have 2 other (potentially 3) rival managers with de facto similar power levels and overlapping responsibilities with their own followers and lackeys. It’s messy and everyone is looking for an opportunity to shine at each other’s expense.
The power levels fluctuate on a weekly basis. On any given week, depending on what the big projects are and who looks better/leverages their position better... someone different may stand taller. It’s never quite clear or fixed (though the company remains hierarchical).
However, on paper, you’re the office Big Shot, allegedly you are supposed to represent the HQ and it’s all-powerful reach.
Now the question is this...
Do you take the Corner Office?
Ever since the 1900s... the Corner Office is a symbol of prestige, power, and domination at your office building. During the reign of the previous manager (who was booted out after he got double crossed during his own double cross against HQ), he lorded over the people from this physical position.
The Corner Office has an amazing unrivaled view of the cityscape and the ocean... there’s a high quality spinning chair along with other amazing furniture pieces. However, it’s greatest advantage is what it represents... Power, Glory, Success, and the ability to monitor everyone else. Historically, the large groups of treacherous and lowly employees cowered in terror because day in and day out, they never knew when The Corner Office was watching. Over various iterations of the Company, it’s become widely accepted that the person who sits in The Corner Office is someone you don’t REALLY want to mess with. You can plot against the office holder but you have to pay deference and formalities, be more circumspect... less he steps out and rains down thunderbolts.
One choice is to sit in the Corner Office and use its symbolism to your advantage, to maintain control over the workers and intimidate your rivals. This is one strategy.
The other choice is to adopt a Nordic Approach where you abolish the Corner Office and position yourself in the very middle of the building, amidst all the workers.
This is a strategy where you try to show the workers, “hey I’m your Boss, but I’m not BETTER than you. I work with you, come talk to me and we’ll work things out.” In other words, you are playing a Man of the People card (relative to your rivals). Keep in mind though that this is potentially dangerous because you may get overthrown, used, or betrayed by the ambitious lower rungs. Eliminating distance with the workers may also prove dangerous, they may get too comfortable and start stepping on you. Be careful. Keep in mind that the company is used to an adversarial model.
Assuming you do not wield enough power to simply mobilize a large group of followers and HQ allies and eliminate the rival departments (and assuming HQ said you can go Nordic, at least if you keep Delivering and don’t rock the status quo)... How do you position yourself?
Do you take the Corner Office or do you go Nordic?
In a hostile company culture, do you rule by fear and terror or do you try to position as a man of the people? And if you do the latter, to what extent are your actions motivated by genuine concern for the workers and to what extent By political expediency?
...
To clarify, assume this company is so powerful it influences world governments and cannot be overthrown. Also, you are a young career driven man/woman.
Let’s say you aren’t looking to switch companies (because that would mess things up). Assume unrivaled perks at this clown show.
