IIP135 The Future of Work: How Can Companies Balance Remote & In-Office Environments?
Release Date: 04/11/2025
Inclusion in Progress
Have you ever wondered how you can support a truly global, culturally diverse team — without losing alignment or connection? Many companies offer work-from-anywhere policies, but few have mastered how to build inclusive, cross-border collaboration into their strategy. Which is why on this episode of Inclusion in Progress, we’re diving into one of the 12 distributed work models we’ve identified while working with remote and hybrid teams: The Work-From-Anywhere + Cross-Cultural Hybrid Model — inspired by companies like Spotify. We cover: How to balance location flexibility with cultural...
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Have you ever wondered how you can create more agile, well-rounded leaders across your organization — without sacrificing flexibility or work-life balance? We often talk about developing talent and succession planning as if they’re separate from our distributed work strategy. But if you’re not intentional about how career growth happens across remote and hybrid setups, you risk losing great talent to stagnation or burnout. Which is why on this episode of Inclusion in Progress, we’re diving into one of the 12 distributed work models we’ve identified while working with global teams:...
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Have you ever wondered how to preserve the freedom and focus of remote work — without losing the connection and collaboration that comes from being together in person? Which is why on this episode of Inclusion in Progress, we’re diving into one of the 12 distributed work models we’ve identified while working with remote and hybrid teams. This episode breaks down the Fully-Remote with Regional Hubs — which allows global leaders like you to provide flexibility without sacrificing belonging and in-person connection. We cover: How to foster in-person collaboration — without...
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In the span of a few short years, our understanding of how, when, and where work happens has shifted in ways that once seemed impossible. During this time, people were able to experiment with their personal work styles and preferences — what allows them to be more productive and efficient — and found that they could be just as effective outside of the office. But what if physical office spaces transformed into creative and collaborative hubs instead of just mandatory checkpoints for your teams? On this episode of Inclusion in Progress, we’re diving into one of the 12 distributed...
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The term “hybrid work” brings up different things for different people and organizations. But even we at Inclusion in Progress can agree: hybrid work in its current iteration is fundamentally broken because it still focuses so heavily on where work gets done — rather than how to make it work better — no matter where people are physically located. Which is why on this episode of Inclusion in Progress, we’re diving into one of the 12 distributed work models we’ve identified while working with remote and hybrid teams. This episode breaks down the Virtual-First with Planned...
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For this episode of Inclusion in Progress, we continue our Distributed Work Expert Series with someone (gasp!) outside of the tech industry! With this series, we’ve been highlighting some of the world’s leading experts who continue to map, innovate, and design how work looks from inside forward-thinking companies — designing a version of work that works for teams — regardless of where they choose to work. Our goal is to highlight distributed work leaders in companies to help forward-thinking leaders like you to: Navigate remote and hybrid work challenges with real-world...
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For this episode of Inclusion in Progress, we return to our Distributed Work Expert Interview Series. On the podcast, we’ve been highlighting some of the world’s leading experts who continue to map, innovate, and design how distributed work looks from inside forward-thinking companies — designing a version of work that works for teams — regardless of where they choose to work. Our goal is to highlight distributed work leaders in companies to help forward-thinking leaders like you to: Navigate remote and hybrid work challenges with real-world examples Draw inspiration to find a...
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Have you ever wondered how you can take your existing hybrid work model and optimize it so that it serves both your employees and your business goals? We often think of hybrid models as a compromise between remote and office-based work but — if you don't intentionally design and revisit your hybrid strategy regularly — this mentality can end up hindering productivity rather than enhancing it. Which is why on this episode of Inclusion in Progress, we’re diving into one of the 12 distributed work models we’ve identified while working with remote and hybrid teams. This episode...
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When it comes to discussions about artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace, most immediately veer into negative territory. It’s hard not to feel alarmed when most headlines we read about AI range from the outrageous to the terrifying. But in reality, what are most organizations actually using AI for? How are systems, protocols, and processes being updated by AI-enabled technologies? And what does the increasing use of AI in companies mean for distributed teams and flexible work? These questions are why Team IIP hosted an Executive Roundtable to discuss, “Beyond Automation: Will AI...
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For years corporate success was measured by the size of a company’s headquarters, but this all changed overnight when the pandemic hit. Companies soon realized that they didn’t need their employees to commute to one central location to collaborate effectively. Which is why on this episode of Inclusion in Progress, we’re diving into one of the 12 distributed work models we’ve identified while working with remote and hybrid teams. This episode breaks down the Hub-And-Spoke Model — which highlights a decentralized approach to workplace design, enabling both in-person and remote...
info_outlineAs hybrid work becomes the new normal, companies face the challenge of balancing flexibility with collaboration. This has become the defining challenge for companies worldwide today.
For some, hybrid work offers the best of both worlds, providing flexibility for employees while maintaining in-person collaboration. However, without a clear strategy, companies risk increased turnover, disengagement, and missed opportunities for innovation.
On this episode of Inclusion in Progress, we’ll discuss:
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How to design hybrid work models that foster equity, innovation, and long-term success
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The biggest roadblocks organizations face when tackling the RTO vs remote debate
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Why hybrid work matters for today’s workforce and the future of work
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Practical solutions to align hybrid strategies with measurable business goals.
To complement your listening to this episode, download our Distributed Work Model E-book for more insights on how you can apply our framework to your distributed teams.
TIMESTAMPS:
[03:33] How does Inclusion in Progress define Inclusive Distributed Work™?
[06:42] Why are we not advocating for fully remote or fully in-office workplaces?
[10:15] Why do we say that the current version of hybrid work is broken?
[12:50] What are practical examples of effective distributed work models?
LINKS:
www.inclusioninprogress.com/podcast
www.linkedin.com/company/inclusion-in-progress
Download our Distributed Work Models E-Book to learn how to find the distributed work model that enables your teams to perform at their best.
Check out IIP Episode 96 to learn more about The 3 Hidden Biases of Hybrid Work & How to Avoid Them.
Want us to partner with you on finding your best-fit hybrid work strategy? Get in touch to learn how we can tailor our services to your company’s DEI and remote work initiatives.
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