RTO Was Yesterday. Project-Based Work Is Today
Vacant towers: U.S. office vacancies have reached record highs as companies shift to hybrid and remote models.
I’ve been working remotely for more than twenty years. When the pandemic hit, it was strange to watch the world shift overnight into a rhythm I’d already been living. What stood out wasn’t how fast people adapted — it was how impossible it is to take that freedom away once you’ve had it.
That’s why return-to-office mandates make so little sense. Banks and big corporations may try, but let’s be real: people aren’t quietly marching back into cubicles after proving they can deliver from anywhere.
What’s worse is how much money companies keep burning on space nobody uses. Nearly 20% of U.S. office space now sits vacant — the highest rate ever recorded. In many major cities, companies have cut footprints by as much as 40%. Between 2019 and 2023, U.S. office buildings lost $557 billion in value.
Would you run your own house that way? Pay to heat, insure, and clean bedrooms no one ever sleeps in — just to say you have them? Of course not. It’s bad business.
Before the pandemic, I rented a small office myself. Not because anyone made me, but because my husband also worked from home and I called it marriage insurance. It gave us breathing room and broke up the day. That was a choice — not a corporate mandate. Since then, we’ve carved out more home office space, and it works. But I know not everyone has that option. That’s exactly why flexibility matters. One-size-fits-all doesn’t.
The real shift: Activity-based → Project-based
Instead of tracking hours, Zoom calls, or busyness, leaders should set clear outcomes:
- Did the deal close?
- Was the agreement signed?
- Did the product milestone hit its date?
If the answer is yes, the rest is noise. Activity can look impressive and deliver nothing. Outcomes move the business forward.
Of course, freedom has to be balanced with accountability. Freedom without accountability is chaos. Accountability without freedom is micromanagement. Leaders who can’t balance the two? Question if they’re really leaders at all.
The pandemic didn’t just change where people work. It showed us the office is optional — but results are not. Leaders who cling to RTO are clinging to the past. Leaders who embrace project-based management are building the future.
Thanks for reading. I’m Kiki Beach — a recruiter now helping teams and individuals use AI to work smarter. Through AiTricity, I share practical tools, prompts, and behind-the-scenes workflows that boost clarity, speed, and results.
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💡 AI Prompt Example
Prompt: You are a manager moving your team from activity-based oversight to project-based management. Write a weekly goal-setting template that keeps accountability high without micromanaging.
Response: Kiki Beach (AiTricity) — Project-based management works best when goals are specific, time-bound, and mutually agreed on. A simple template might include: “This week’s outcome,” “Dependencies or blockers,” and “Next milestone.” That way, progress is measured by results, not hours online.