Can Hybrid Work Work? Why In-Person Presence is Still Essential If You Want to Stay Ahead – Jacob Morgan | Best-Selling Author, Speaker, & Futurist | Leadership | Future of Work

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Why In-Person Matters for Aspiring Leaders

If you have leadership aspirations — if you want to be seen, mentored, promoted — then I’ll say this as clearly as I can: now is your moment.

Because while many people are choosing not to come into the office (and hey, no judgment if that’s your choice), that also means less competition for visibility and access. If you’re the one who’s there — collaborating with your leader, watching how they operate in real-time, building relationships with your team — you’re going to stand out.

Leadership development doesn’t just happen in courses or check-ins. It happens in the margins. It happens when you see how someone handles a tough conversation, negotiates under pressure, responds with empathy. And those moments are hard to catch on Zoom.

This isn’t about facetime for the sake of facetime. It’s about learning through osmosis — something that only happens when you’re in the room.

Listen to the episode here on Apple Podcast & leave a review!

Be Intentional with Your Presence

Let’s not fall into an all-or-nothing mindset here. I’m not saying you need to be in the office five days a week, suited up, grinding from 9 to 5. I’m saying be intentional.

If you’re doing deep work, presentations, writing, or calls — sure, stay home. But if you’re trying to build trust, innovate with a team, develop your leadership skills, or connect with senior leaders — get in the room. Don’t miss the moments that matter.

We need to stop treating work location as a binary decision and start thinking strategically. Match your environment to your goals.

Coast or Climb — You Get to Choose

If you’re happy where you are and just want to get your paycheck, there’s nothing wrong with that. Seriously. Everyone has different seasons of life and career. But if you’re coasting, don’t be surprised if you’re not the one getting tapped for the next promotion.

Because while you’re chilling at home, someone else is making the effort to show up. They’re putting on the blazer, commuting in, having side conversations with leadership, and becoming the obvious choice when the next opportunity opens up.

So if you have goals — real goals — about stepping into leadership, now’s the time to lean in while others are leaning out.

Listen to the Full Episode

This is a conversation a lot of people are avoiding, but we need to have it — especially if you care about building future-ready leaders. In the full episode, I go deeper into the differences between productivity and impact, how to be intentional about when to be in-person, and why this moment presents a massive opportunity for ambitious professionals.

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