The world of work is changing, and we’re all trying to make sense of what comes next. Some leaders are pushing for a return to the office, convinced that being in the same physical space is the only way to foster collaboration, build trust, and drive results. I get it. There’s an undeniable magic to spontaneous hallway conversations, whiteboard sessions, and team lunches that just can’t be replicated over Zoom.
But here’s the thing—I don’t believe remote work is the problem. I believe the way we think about connection is.
Remote work isn’t just a trend. It’s a fundamental shift in how we work, and the data proves it. Productivity hasn’t suffered. In fact, in many industries, it’s gone up. Employees are happier, turnover is lower, and companies that embrace flexibility are attracting the best talent. A 2021 study from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that industries with remote flexibility saw an increase in productivity, and research from Stack Overflow showed that employees with full remote freedom reported 20% higher job satisfaction.
Yet, for all its benefits, remote work can’t replace the value of being face-to-face. That’s where so many companies get it wrong. They assume that because remote work is great, we never need to meet in person. Or, they go to the other extreme—insisting that the only way to build culture and alignment is by forcing people back into an office five days a week. Neither approach is right.
The best companies will be the ones that embrace a new model—one that recognizes that remote work is the future, but meaningful in-person interactions are essential to making it work. This doesn’t mean once-a-year company retreats with trust falls and campfire sing-alongs. It means getting together regularly, with purpose, to align, collaborate, and build the kind of trust that makes remote work even better.
At Vamos, we believe teams need to meet in person more than they think—quarterly, or even monthly, depending on their size and needs. Not because we don’t trust remote work, but because we know that the best remote teams are the ones that invest in real human connection. The research backs this up. A Harvard Business Review study found that 95% of people believe face-to-face meetings are essential for building long-term business relationships. And Stanford researchers discovered that in-person teams generate 15–20% more ideas than their virtual counterparts. These moments of in-person collaboration aren’t just nice to have; they’re a strategic advantage.
The companies that will thrive in the future aren’t the ones clinging to an outdated office model, nor the ones refusing to meet at all. They’re the ones that get the balance right—leveraging the freedom and flexibility of remote work while creating intentional moments to come together.
At Vamos, we’re making that easier. We exist to take the headache out of planning and booking offsites so that remote and distributed teams can focus on what really matters—aligning, collaborating, and strengthening the relationships that make great work possible. The future of work is remote, but it’s not apart. The companies that understand this won’t just succeed. They’ll lead.
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