Stop Wasting Commutes: 3 Reasons to Bring Your Remote Team Into the Office (And When Not To)

I recently heard from a leader frustrated by “low energy” team days at the office. Her hybrid team was commuting in twice a week, only to sit on Zoom calls, answer emails, and leave more disconnected than ever.

Here’s what she, and many others, are getting wrong: presence doesn’t equal performance. If you're calling your team into the office without purpose, you're driving disengagement, not promoting it.

Here are 3 reasons to bring your team together, and 3 costly mistakes to avoid:

1. COLLABORATION

✔️ Bring them in to innovate, co-create, and problem-solve in real time.
❌ Don't bring them in to sit silently on laptops. That’s not collaboration; it’s just glorified solo work in proximity.

81% of employees say successful companies prioritize learning and development. Live collaboration is key to that.

Better Strategy:

• Host in-person ‘Collaborate & Innovate Sessions’ to generate fresh solutions
• Launch innovation labs that pair cross-functional teams
• Use whiteboards, post-its, or tools like MURAL to co-design workflows

💡 Tip: Collaborate to solve, not just to meet.

2. CONNECTION

✔️ Bring them in to build trust, deepen relationships, and reinforce your culture.
❌ Don't bring them in just for casual chats and “forced team-building” with no structure.

43% of employees say trust in colleagues is critical for retention, and 57% cite inclusive cultures as essential. But connection isn’t accidental, it’s intentional.

Better Strategy:

• Schedule leadership “ask me anything” sessions
• Facilitate trust-building workshops that actually solve workplace challenges
• Lead with shared values and tie team discussions back to the mission

💡 Tip: Connection happens when people feel seen, heard, and valued, not when you "mandate forced culture."

3. CELEBRATION

✔️ Bring them in to recognize achievements and reward excellence.
❌ Don't bring them in for generic pizza parties with no meaning.

82% of employees say recognition is a top driver of retention, yet most leaders do it by making it impersonal or inconsistent.

Better Strategy:

• Celebrate progress as much as performance
• Spotlight individual contributions during team wins
• Use hybrid-optimized recognition tools for remote teammates too

💡 Tip: Celebrate loud, celebrate often, and celebrate with intention.

This Week’s Challenge:

Audit your in-office days. Are they built for Collaboration, Connection, or Celebration? Or are they filled with tasks your team could do better remotely?

If it’s the latter, save the gas money. If it’s the former, lean in with purpose, and watch your culture transform.

Ready to ignite a high-performance culture?

• Visit [https://destinationworkplace.com]
• To book Betsy to speak at your next leadership event, go to [https://betsyallenmanning.com]

About Betsy:

Featured on FOX, CBS, NBC, and ABC, Betsy Allen-Manning is a high-energy leadership keynote speaker and workplace culture strategist who helps organizations develop stronger leaders, high performers, and build cultures where people stay, grow, and thrive. Through her national workplace research and The DNA Keynote Series, she delivers data-backed, high-interaction presentations powered by results-driven frameworks. Betsy is also the founder of Destination Workplace™, an award-winning leadership training company in Dallas, trusted by some of the world’s most elite brands nationwide.