One of my clients recently shared something I don’t hear talked about very often.
Her team is global. Different time zones. Different countries.
And instead of trying to force a traditional structure, they log into a shared Zoom room during the day – like a virtual office. And no commute or performative busyness.
No constant meetings. No agenda.
They work quietly. They mute. They unmute.
When someone needs a 1:1, they step into a private room. Then they come back.
It creates connection without disruption.
I know other people who do the same thing, but with colleagues who actually live in the same city. They could be together physically, but this gives them flexibility while still feeling connected.
This is what workplace evolution looks like.
Let me be clear – I’m not anti-in-person work.
There are industries where being together matters.
There are moments when face-to-face collaboration is powerful.
And there are teams who truly thrive that way.
And it’s dated to think it’s the only way.
For parents in leadership roles, you’re not just managing deliverables and teams.
You’re managing school pickups, sick kids, aging parents, and your own nervous system.
Presence doesn’t require proximity.
People can feel supported without being watched.
They can collaborate without constant interruption.
They can do focused work while still feeling part of something.
When leaders design for both autonomy and connection, accountability doesn’t disappear. It actually deepens.
The best leaders I work with aren’t asking, “How do I get everyone back in the office?”
They’re asking, “How do we actually work?” It’s about designing ways of working that reflect how humans actually live now – not how work was structured decades ago when one income supported a family and someone else handled everything at home
Sometimes that answer is in person.
Sometimes it’s remote.
And sometimes it’s a virtual room quietly open, letting people be together without treating them like they’re lives are all the same.