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Post-Covid, the telecommuting vs. office work debate has intensified. The allure of working from home is undeniable: no commute, casual wear, and more flexibility around scheduling and managing tasks. But I am convinced that, for many organizations, there is no substitute personal work. It is not about nostalgia, tradition or resistance to change. It is about preserving the elements that bring success in business such as mentoring, career advancement, collaboration and speed of action.
This is not a complete argument. Some businesses thrive on remote or hybrid work models. But for others—where real-time collaboration, spontaneous problem-solving, and face-to-face interactions are critical—the advantages of working from work are hard to deny. For my part, I don't think my career would have progressed so quickly before I started Dynasty – nor would Dynasty have seen the success it has as a completely far-fetched undertaking.
Related: In defense of the office
Mentoring thrives in the office, not online
One advantage of working in an office is the improvement of mentoring. Ultimately, mentoring is an organic, dynamic, and ongoing process that, at least in its most impactful form, cannot be overly structured. Electronic meetings can be a major obstacle, but such strictly scheduled meetings cannot foster the spontaneous interactions that foster in-person learning in the workplace.
In an office, new hires can see how experienced colleagues tackle challenges in the moment, allowing them to witness how problems are solved on the spot. This is a much richer learning experience than most people can glean from formal feedback. It's the unplanned moments—a thought separated from the coffee machine, an impromptu conversation between meetings—that shape professional growth. You can't plan for a passing comment, and such comments can change the way you think about a customer issue and unlock a strategy you hadn't considered.
Remote work tends to flatten these possibilities. Virtual meetings have clear agendas and while they can be efficient, they lack the spontaneity that mentoring requires. Personal work allows new employees to acquire not only technical knowledge, but also the unspoken elements of workplace culture — how to navigate office politics, build relationships and handle pressure. These are critical to long-term career success, but they are difficult to convey through a screen.
Being seen is an aid to career advancement
Visibility is crucial for career growthand the office provides an environment where contributions can be more easily recognized. In a remote environment, it's easy for work to go unnoticed, even with regular checks. Video calls don't offer the same opportunities to show initiative or tackle an impromptu project. It's easier to stay in the foreground when you're in the same room as your manager, actively participating in discussions or lending a hand when a colleague needs help.
An office presence helps employees build informal networks, which can be just as important to career advancement as formal interactions. The person you chat with over lunch can become a key advocate when a promotion opportunity presents itself. When you are present, you are naturally in front of decision makers more often, giving you more opportunities to make a positive impression. This exposure to leadership and the ability to network with colleagues across departments creates pathways to new roles or responsibilities that might otherwise go unnoticed in a remote work environment.
In contrast, remote workers may struggle to keep up engagement or visibility. Despite their best efforts, the lack of physical proximity can lead to missed opportunities. Out of sight, out of mind – a saying that, unfortunately, is often true in career advancement.
The irreplaceable synergies of working together in person
Tools like Slack and Zoom have made remote collaboration easier, but they're no substitute for working side-by-side with your team in the same room. Energy generated by face-to-face collaboration it fosters creativity, problem solving and innovation in ways that digital platforms cannot replicate.
In the office, discussions are more fluid and dynamic. An idea that starts as a quick chat next to a colleague's desk can quickly turn into a full brainstorming session. These moments are difficult to plan for, but they are essential to any successful business. In virtual meetings, structure often stifles this kind of creativity. The focus on efficiency and time constraints mean that discussions rarely devolve into the sometimes chaotic, but often fruitful, exchanges that take place in person.
Physical proximity encourages stronger team cohesion. Employees can build relationships naturally, just by spending time together. These connections deepen trust and create a shared sense of purpose, making teams more effective. When people feel more connected, they collaborate better and the end result is a more innovative and successful organization.
The strategic advantage of in-country feedback
In a fast-paced environment, speed matters. The ability to make quick decisions can make the difference between seizing and losing an opportunity. With all or most of the key players in the same space, information flows more freely and decisions can be made on the spot without delays and lack of spontaneity natural for long-distance communication.
When you're in the office, you can always go to a colleague's desk and get instant feedback on an idea instead of waiting for an email response or trying to find time on someone's calendar. Everyone knows that phone etiquette and fragmented means of communication slow things down. Work-to-work helps avoid these bottlenecks and drives efficiency.
Remote work can also make teams more “isolated” because employees tend to interact most with their direct colleagues. This can limit cross-departmental communication, reducing overall business awareness and collaboration. Working in an office helps break down these silosallowing employees to build relationships and collaborate across teams, which is essential for innovation and agility.
Working in an office builds a company's culture
The telecommuting vs. office work debate isn't going away, and it shouldn't go away. Remote work is proven its valueespecially when it comes to providing flexibility and meeting individual needs. But for companies focused on long-term growth, development, and success, there's still great value in maintaining a shared workspace.
Related: Want employees back in the office? What leaders are getting wrong (still!) about this question
The office is not just a space. It is a culture. It's where mentorship happens, careers are built, and teams come together to solve problems, innovate, and make decisions that drive success. For this reason, it is especially important for business leaders to be clear about remote versus in-person work policies. Ambiguity or inconsistency between departments can create confusion and frustration.
As we move forward, businesses must consider whether remote work, with all its benefits, can replicate the unique opportunities created when people work together face-to-face. For many people, there is still no substitute for the wealth that comes from working in the same space.