1st Place: The Ideal Office "Cube".

When you think of the "ideal office cube," what picture immediately springs to mind? Do you envision an 8- by 8-foot private cubicle with a window? Or, perhaps for you, the picture that emerges is the virtual office away from the office as achieved by many telecommuters. Having an ideal office cube goes far beyond the physical attributes of the workplace to the heart of what really makes the work environment fulfilling and enjoyable.

The "ideal office cube" can exist in a traditional office setting. This ideal cube is achieved by cubing the outstanding qualities that result in an ideal work environment. The ideal cube is one that nurtures motivated, creative, and productive employees. Take a look at the cube formed by these IDEAL characteristics.

"I" - Innovation, Initiative, Ingenuity

The "I" in IDEAL represents innovation, initiative, and ingenuity. A creative and stimulating work environment will be achieved in an organization where these "I" qualities are actively encouraged. While fostering the ideal work environment is the responsibility of each individual in the work group, the leader has the primary responsibility for laying the foundation and is key in determining what type of office environment will thrive.

To cultivate these particular "I" qualities, the leader must first drive out fear in the workplace. Since innovation springs from people who dare to take risks, the leader must eliminate the fear associated with raking the risks that can result in ingenious process improvements. If fear is allowed to dwell in the workplace, individuals will not be willing to deal with day-to-day problems within the work group, much less to show the initiative to originate clever new ideas.

In an environment where the "I's" thrive, employees feel challenged to continually find more effective ways of accomplishing their tasks. In an intimidation-free environment, individuals have the freedom to express creative ideas. A successful leader will maximize the probability of having an innovative work environment by recognizing the strengths and weaknesses of each individual and assigning tasks that capitalize on the unique capabilities of each person. A work environment in which the qualities of innovation, initiative, and ingenuity abound is one that offers opportunities, choices, and exciting challenges for all.

"D" - Dedication, Determination, Dynamic

The next trio of characteristics in the IDEAL office cube are the "D" qualities of dedication, determination, and dynamic. A dynamic office environment is one in which energy and motivation abound. A great method for keeping the office environment dynamic is to remain current and on the leading edge in both processes and technologies. Doing so prevents dullness and stagnation from taking root.

The leader can help ensure that the office environment remains energetic through numerous methods. These methods include varying individual's work assignments, encouraging participation in professional organizations, and supporting ongoing training so that employees can stay up-to-date both professionally and technically. A dynamic office environment pays big dividends for the organization in the form of dedicated and determined employees. When employees are motivated, caught up in the excitement of the new things being pursued in the office, and see the enthusiasm of their coworkers, they are much more inclined to be determined, contributing, and valuable members of the team.

"E" - Expectations, Empowerment, Empathy 

At the central point of our IDEAL office environment are the "E's." The success or failure of our IDEAL environment is centered on the "E" qualities of expectations, empowerment, and empathy. If a leader expects to have a successful office, he must first lay out clear expectations for each member. A leader has no right to be disappointed in the performance of an employee if he has never clearly and specifically communicated the vision of success. People must understand what the leader expects of them.

By the same token, employees have no right to be disappointed in the quality of leadership if they have not taken the time to let the leader know what they need to be successful in their office roles. The best forum for this discussion is a one-on-one meeting where leader and employee candidly discuss expectations and responsibilities.

Closely related to the first "E" quality is the second: empowerment. As the leader explains his expectations, the role of empowerment should be defined. Empowerment is an often misunderstood term that simply means that the employees who work most closely with a process are given the opportunity to provide valuable input into ways to improve that process. Employees should know that the leader values their input and should understand the boundaries within which empowerment functions in the IDEAL office cube.

And finally, the characteristics of expectations and empowerment should function in an environment whose foundation is empathy. It has been said, "They will not care how much you know until they know how much you care." The most intellectual leader may well be the most ineffective leader if the members of the office do not feel that the leader has concern for them as individuals.

One of the most powerful ways to demonstrate empathy in the office environment is through mentoring. Being a mentor and actively promoting the personal and professional development of each member of the office is a challenging task, but it can reap great rewards. Mentoring can be provided through example, counseling sessions, encouraging individuals to pursue higher education and professional military education, encouraging participation in the community and professional organizations-the opportunities are unlimited!

"A" -Accountability, Appreciation, Accomplishment

The "A" qualities in our IDEAL office cube are accountability, appreciation, and accomplishment. Accountability is closely aligned with empowerment. We stated that individuals should understand the boundaries within which empowerment functions in the office environment. One of those boundaries is accountability. If employees are going to be empowered to have a key role in decision making, they must understand that with empowerment comes the responsibility of being accountable for their decisions and the resulting impacts of such decisions.

The second "A" quality is appreciation. Every person wants to feel that others appreciate the contribution that he makes, particularly the organization's leadership. There are numerous ways to show employees that their contributions are valued, including providing rewards.

Rewards do not necessarily imply a monetary award. Different types of rewards motivate individuals, depending on their personality types. For some, the cash award is a very effective way to show appreciation. For others, time-off incentive awards are much more meaningful. And for others, the simple act of acknowledging the contribution and expressing thanks mean the most. Regardless of the method chosen, the important factor is that the individual realizes that the efforts being expended are noticed and appreciated.

The last "A" quality in the IDEAL office is accomplishment. Individuals need a sense of accomplishment in their work. Pride in work is gained when people can see productive outcomes of their efforts. The successful office environment is one that yields both tangible and meaningful results. Even a dynamic office environment that does not lead to meaningful end products results in frustration rather than a sense of accomplishment.

Accountability, appreciation, and accomplishment are "A+" qualities in the IDEAL office cube.

"L"- Learning, Laughter, Loyalty

The final trio of outstanding characteristics completing the IDEAL office cube are the "L" qualities of learning, laughter, and loyalty. A productive environment with highly motivated individuals will be an environment of continuous learning.

Ongoing learning plays a crucial role in maintaining a dynamic office. Continuous learning may be achieved not only through training courses directly related to the workplace but also through encouraging individuals to seek education outside of work. Continuous learning not only keeps employees employed-it makes them employable and promotable. An environment of continuous learning is critical to maintaining innovation and ingenuity.

The value of the second "L" quality, laughter, should never be underestimated. Laughter is a proven stress reliever, and some evidence suggests it even facilitates healing in some serious illnesses. Humor in the workplace can overcome so many challenges and obstacles. In today's environment of high stress, downsizing, and constant change, laughter provides an excellent mechanism for helping individuals cope.

The final "L" quality is loyalty. Loyalty can never be dictated, no matter how hard some may try. It is an attribute that must be earned. Loyalty is a quality best cultivated in the workplace through exhibiting fairness, integrity, and honest care for others, both in their personal and in their professional well-being. To earn loyalty from the individuals who work in his office, a leader must be willing to exhibit trust in them. One way to exhibit trust is by delegating work but not dictating how it must be done. Loyalty is earned by implementing our IDEAL office cube qualities.

While telecommuting and the virtual office are the perfect environments for some as we enter the new millennium, there is so much that can be accomplished through the traditional office setting. The synergy achieved when a group of individuals work together in a dynamic environment that promotes innovation can yield extraordinary results. Refurnish your office today with IDEAL office cubes and see what a difference a little "redecorating" can make!