If any business type is set up for success in this arrangement, it is a professional services business. By its nature, these entities are driven by human capital, not hard assets physically locked down in one place. In pre-COVID times, the business "assets" were passing and always (or almost always) left each night. Furthermore, professionals at these businesses were just as likely to be working at a client site or remotely. The pandemic has only accelerated this trend. It has even changed clients' views to see that their service providers can be just as effective not being on-site.

The critical factor for professional services leaders is maintaining the culture that makes the entity unique and helps with employee retention and recruitment. But, as employees are getting used to working remotely, they are also getting used to remote activities to support team building. More remote options are available, and entire industries are growing to offer virtual corporate events. With the right strategies in place, there is no doubt that professional services businesses can thrive in remote environments.

Practically speaking, no, they cannot.

Strong performing teams are comprised of individuals who experience and enjoy a healthy blend of Autonomy, Connection, and Contribution. A material deficiency in any of these three attributes will create an unhealthy cultural balance over an extended period, translating into suboptimal performance.

The loss of live, human connection that can result from a transition to a remote or hybrid work environment will negatively impact certain team members' sense of Autonomy, Connection, and Contribution, which will create challenges with scalability and sustainability of the team's performance.