The first question we need to ask is not, “Why are people not returning to the office,” but rather, “What can we accomplish individually and as an organization by returning to the office that we cannot do remotely?”

We hear daily of organizations mandating the return to the office, but very few articulate why they feel this is vital.

If we are bringing people back just so they can continue to have Webex or Zoom meetings all day, there doesn’t seem to be a point.

However, if organizations can articulate the benefits to all, then the conversation can change.

We need to be aspirational.

We must look at what the office can become and not dwell on what it was.

We need to think of reasons to bring people together for creativity and collaboration, realizing that the dynamic of having people in the same room creates far different results than meetings staring at three-inch avatars with muted mics and turned-off cameras.

In short, we need to inspire people to think about what is next and how coming to the office enables them to be part of something larger.

It is about culture and purpose.

It allows big, hairy, audacious (BHAG) goals to be dreamed, developed, and actualized.

• It cannot be about command and control.
• It cannot be about justifying rents, utilities, and premises improvements.
• It cannot be because it is more convenient for senior management.
• It must be because it is a better way to move forward.

What is the better way?

What is the BHAG you are chasing?

Only you, as an organization and the people within it, can determine it, and you can only get there by talking with and listening to each other.

Each organization needs to figure this out for themselves. There is no universal truth or solution.

No compromise will work across industries, let alone companies or divisions. 

Leaders need to work with teams, and everyone needs to be open and honest about what they want, need and desire.

• What is essential to them and why?
• Why do people want to stay at home?
• Why does leadership need people to come back to the office?
• What would create changes that work for everyone, or at least most?
• Could it be affordable and reliable daycare on-premises?
• Could it be a series of satellite offices around a city instead of a central hub?
• Could it be moving the head office closer to where most staff live?
• Could grocery and drycleaning services be available so that pick up and drop off can happen at the office and save people time?
• Could it mean shifting work hours so everyone is not travelling to and from the office during rush hours?

As an organization, you will never know until you ask.

You will never understand the challenges people face and the extra stress coming back to the office puts on them and their families that you could quickly mitigate.

Now is the time to realize that a new way of thinking and a new set of solutions are required to keep valuable employees and remain profitable and relevant in the long run.