Franke James is Editor/Founder of Office-Politics.com and Inventor of the Office-Politics® Game.

Peter R. Garber has worked as an HR professional for over 25 years and is the author of many business books including: Winning the Rat Race at Work and 100 Ways to Get on the Wrong Side of your Boss.

Dina Beach Lynch, is an Ombudsman, Author and former attorney. An award-winning mediator, Dina served as the Corporate Ombudsman for the 7th largest bank in the US helping over 48,000 employees to resolve workplace issues.

Dr. Rick Brandon is CEO of Brandon Partners. He has consulted and trained tens of thousands at corporations worldwide, including Fortune 500 companies across a variety of industries.

Dr. Marty Seldman is one of America's most experienced executive coaches. His 35-year career includes expertise in executive coaching, group dynamics, cross-cultural studies, clinical psychology, and training.

Arnie Herz, is a lawyer, mediator, speaker, author and consultant nationally recognized for his practical and inspired approach to conflict resolution and client counseling.

Dr. John Burton LL.B. M.B.A. M.Div. Ph.D. is an ethicist, mediator, lawyer and theologian. John is currently located in Prince Rupert, B.C., Canada, working with Canada's aboriginal communities.

Little did I realize that losing the title of Manager meant losing my office too! I don't want to return to the cubicle world...

Brandon and Seldman respond: "Ouch! We do feel your disappointment and chagrin, which might be a tough pill to swallow. It sounds like you unfortunately did not ask enough questions about the new position's perks, benefits, and disadvantages..."

April 2006

Dear Office-Politics,

I have been a Manager in IT for 8 years, with direct reports ranging from 4-19. I've recently agreed to take on a new role that has no direct reports, and a title change to Business Systems Consultant. Little did I realize that losing the title of Manager meant losing my office too! I don't want to return to the cubicle world. How best do I challenge the status quo? It's like I have to do a business case to keep my office - and then the chances are very slim.

Thanks!

Anti-Cubicle-World

Dear Anti-Cubicle-World,

Ouch! We do feel your disappointment and chagrin, which might be a tough pill to swallow. It sounds like you unfortunately did not ask enough questions about the new position's perks, benefits, and disadvantages. Monday morning quarterbacking is easy for us and you, of course, so we don't need to linger on how to fix this mistake in the future. We all make assumptions based upon our wishes, and these need to be validated.

That said, your options are really two-fold: Accept the situation and alter your mindset about it, lean into networking, or ethically lobby key stakeholder for your position.

ALTER YOUR MINDSET
Here, you may need to simply sell yourself on all the benefits of the switch that prompted you to accept (or ask for) it in the first place, right? We assume you either liked the pay increase, needed/wanted to "slow down," or desired the autonomy or freedom from managerial headaches that the new consulting position afford you. Focus on this versus the privacy, pleasant environment, and/or prestige of an office (different people have these vantage points for offices). What lifestyle benefits do you know enjoy that were impossible before? Obviously, whatever you can do to create an office-like decor for your cubicle will help offset the drawbacks, too, such as a white noise machine, plants, decor to help make the physical space more conducive to your work, etc. Also, remember that moving around to your internal client's offices also provide freedom and job variety,since consultants are well served by being out and about to learn their clients' world.

NETWORK FOCUS
Instead of seeing the traditional power role of an office, status, etc., why not shift perspective to see that a centralized cubicle might afford you more visibility so people know who you are, see you as active and competent, and may allow relationship-building? We even know a fellow who traded his corner office for the one right next to the company cafeteria solely in order to gain the exposure that that location provided. Every manager, director, executive, and leader HAD to pass by his office on the way to the cafeteria every day! He'd close his door when needed, but also liked people stopping in, seeing him working, etc.

ETHICAL LOBBYING
If you do choose to advocate for an office, DO reframe it from "challenging the status quo" to "making a business case" as you put it. You're not "complaining" or making waves. You are realizing your job results and productivity will be served by an office. First, make sure that's the case and then network to build strong relationships of stakeholders to present your view. If you don't have a good network, now is probably too late. If it's been a long time since you accepted the job, then you have been operating as if your cubicle is acceptable for a while, so the timing for your lobbying to sell your idea may not be advantageous. You'll then need to shift the posturing to be a gradual gathering of data showing how the quality of your performance is tough to maintain in this environment. Of course, then you are risking announcing that your work is less than desirable, so you're kind of damned if you do, damned if you don't! Weigh out the risks versus rewards of pushing this issue, especially now. Also, if the unwritten or written rules and norms are that your position does NOT attach an office, you might really be swimming upstream on this issue. Make sure it's worth the risk. You may be better served by earning a corporate buzz as a team player, earning the right to later ask for an office instead of a bonus, etc.

We're sorry for your situation, but we know plenty of people who wish they had a job to complain about! Good luck in coping and making lemonade out of lemons. Thanks for writing to Office-Politics.

Best,

Rick Brandon, Ph.D. and Marty Seldman, Ph.D., Co-authors
Survival of the Savvy: High-Integrity Political Tactics for Career and Company Success
www.survivalofthesavvy.com