Protecting what, exactly?
"We're protecting the culture" has become a default statement from senior leaders mandating a return to office.
But here's the thing about culture: it's not a priceless piece of art hanging in a gallery. It's more like a garden - living, breathing, changing with the seasons.
When we tell people we're "protecting" something that's meant to evolve, we're really saying, "We're afraid of what might happen if we don't control this."
The irony of this is that these leaders are forcing people back to preserve something that has already changed. And therefore, what will come next will likely be worse, not better.
The truth would be more refreshing (and engaging): "We prefer having people in the office. Here's why. Here's our plan to make it work. Here's how we'll help you adapt."
Instead, we get this strange dance where leaders pretend they're the guardians of some sacred cultural flame, while employees see right through it.
Want to bring people back to the office? Fine. That's a choice you get to make as a leader. But pretending it's about "protecting" something that's already transformed during several years of remote work? That's not leadership. That's nostalgia masquerading as strategy.
The real opportunity isn't in protecting culture. It's in giving employees agency to create one worth coming back to.
