If the work is getting done,

If the work is getting done, why do I need to be sitting at my desk but you can actually see me doing it? So I was reading this article from the New York Times opinion piece by Adam Grant and it was very, very interesting because it actually put research behind something that I've been saying for years. Now, are there good reasons to be in the office? Absolutely. There's mentorship. There's relationship building. There's helping new employees to learn the actual culture of the company. All that matters. But here's where I've always struggled with the productivity argument. During the pandemic, companies spent years telling us that productivity was up. That projects were getting done. That businesses were moving forward. Then all of a sudden, the conversation shifted and changed. Now, everybody needs to be in the office five days a week. Why? Because productivity was the issue. We answered that question years ago. And I saw for myself. I worked for leaders who trusted me to build the strategy, to lead the initiative, to influence the organization to make important decisions. But somehow, still needed to physically see me do the work at my desk. I've never understood that. Because the value of work is not somebody seeing you type on your keyboard. The value of work is the outcome of the work, the impact, the results. Do I think every leader pushing return to office is driven by ego? Of course not. But I do think there's a segment of leaders who are more comfortable managing present than managing performance. Absolutely. And I think that's the conversation that people are finally starting to have. I'm curious. What are your thoughts?