We are all still sorting out how to productively work, collaborate and service clients in a hybrid work environment. Some studies claim 2 days in the office is optimal while others say 3. Some reports declare that productivity has declined while others show it’s increased.

With all of this conflicting data, what has become clear is that each firm has to determine what works for its own culture. In that process, the most successful firms will also redefine the role of the “office.”

The office was the place where work happened—productivity, collaboration, socializing, connection, culture, etc. Now, productivity can happen anywhere (pretty much) and, if done well, collaboration, connection and culture can happen remotely, too.

The key part of that sentence, however, is “if done well.” Many leaders and teammates haven’t been trained how to remotely cultivate these aspects of working. Some could argue they weren’t so great at it while we were all in the office either.

So, the question then becomes, “What is the office for?” If firms start here to redesign the office experience, they will have a more successful time enticing people to come back to the office. What I’m fairly confident won’t be well received is docking someone’s bonus if they fail to show their faces in the office for a set number of days per week.