Gone are the days when kings, queens, emperors and empresses used to rule on their provinces, territories, kingdoms and empires from forts, citadels and castles some centuries back. Tribal leaders used to control, govern and guide their groups in prehistoric time by same way. They all used to occupy certain amount of marked physical space that was slightly elevated from ground and surrounded by enclosures or guarded by armed soldiers on open grounds, in galleries, courtyards or large halls.
They used to seat there on specially crafted and decorated - jeweled thrones or chairs exhibiting their superiority, competency and rich ancestral - cultural inheritance.
Today’s organizations, enterprises, trade houses, industries or institutions are more or less like ancient kingdoms that are founded on certain set of functions - faculties and expanded to limited or large no. of clients and geographical areas. Modern chiefs or managers have turned throne and its surroundings into miniaturized form like personal cabins or offices.
Anyone can easily find the difference between them and rest of the workplace. You would hardly find any personal cabin or office close to entrance or gathering point to make it hard to access for others and avoid easy intrusion or trespassing. This is exactly like surrounded or guarded thrones of ancient times.
Today’s personal cabins or offices are guarded by peons or armed personals at its entrance. On single floor workplace, chief’s cabin or office often stands in the middle or at the edge. If workplace occupies multistory building or multiple adjacent buildings, special care is taken to erect personal cabin or office with special security, facilities and amenities on topmost floors or in an isolated building.
The most important things observable in chief’s cabin or office is a clock hanging on wall or put on table, visible to all. Obviously, clock reminds other the timeliness and to honor precious time being spent by the chief. Mostly, rectangular table is kept to create a secure space between chief and other persons.
Various objects like pen stand, files, rack, flags, emblems, miniature models, motif, mascots, statues, flower pot, table lamp, diary, computer and telephone kept on table to mark territorial dominance of chief hence intrusion and utilization of it by other is strictly prohibited. Only personal assistants, officials of equal rank or higher are allowed to enter and utilize this territory on formal or informal permission of chief.
Windows are built in walls to mimic enlarged physical space, facilitate more illumination and allow looking outside. Curtains made up of rich fabric are installed on windows. Walls are adorned by precious gifts, antiquates, crafts and paintings to exhibit status. Globe or world map signifies the expanse of vision and ambition. Certificates, medals, trophies and testimonies show off accreditation, excellence, competencies, achievements and capability. Photographs depicting chief along with other pioneers, dignitaries, celebrities and high ranking personals are also kept to convey strong rapport. Often books are kept in shelf to demonstrate eligibility and access to knowledge and are used for quick reference whenever required. Costly furniture brings the an overall effect of majestic surrounding.
Chair deployed for chief is taller, bigger, more comfortable and pricey compared to sitting arrangement made for other. Chair with rotary axle, push-back, elevated back rest and head cushion help chief to appear as strong, secured, relax, focused and confident. Chair is placed facing its back towards fixed partition or wall to add security same way thrones were kept. Often, sitting arrangement for other faces its back to door of cabin or office.
Other are usually allowed sitting on ordinary benches and chairs with smaller resting surfaces, lower in height, fixed back and steady axle to put them on the edge of comfort and confidence level ultimately neutralize their defenses or challenges.
Other persons greet, exercise shake hand, offer or receive gifts, discuss and give presentations sitting or standing at one side of table. Only in inevitable or special situations, personal space of chief is invaded round the table.
In many cabins or offices, sofa is kept on which chief can seat with officials of equal or higher rankings, consultants or field experts and openly discuss or share view points and generate mutual trustworthy environment. Glass panels are installed to allow watching entire workspace and maneuvers of people outside.
There can be some exceptions to or variations in modern cabin of office depending upon type of industry, organization, work culture etc.
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