The Power of Being TogetherOn any given day, you might see headlines debating whether to return to the office or stay remote: Company A insists their people return full-time, onsite, while Company B has committed to fully remote operations "forever."
I think this debate misses a key point—there's a powerful middle ground. Lots of studies have shown how productive people can be at home, and an equal number show they are more productive in an office - so call it a tossup.
This week, I had the pleasure of speaking with several senior leaders from one of my favorite clients. They have team members spread all across the U.S., yet over the past several weeks, their teams have come together in person for 2025 planning.
What struck me most? Everyone spoke about the immense value of being together. Not just in terms of productivity, but the deeper connections, the creative energy, and the collective momentum that simply can’t be replicated on a screen.
When I probed further, I asked them, “What exactly made this in-person experience so powerful?” Was it the structured meetings? The chance to brainstorm together? The late-night convos at the hotel bar? Without hesitation, every leader pointed to the spontaneous moments—the unscripted exchanges, the serendipity of ideas coming together in a way that’s just not possible over Zoom.
But here's the important thing: not one of them suggested they need to return to the office full-time. The power lies in the intentionality. Companies don’t need to force their people back into the office to cultivate connection, creativity, and collaboration. It’s about creating meaningful opportunities for people to come together—whether that’s quarterly offsites, annual retreats, or even project-specific meetups.
This isn’t an either/or debate. The future of work is flexible, but it also embraces the moments that matter most: when people come together in person, with purpose.
How is your company mixing it up? In person? Remote? How can you bring more intention when you do come together?
