col·lab·o·ra·tion /kəˌlabəˈrāSH(ə)n/
noun
1. the action of working with someone to produce or create something.
Please note there is nothing in the definition about how or when or where this can happen. This is worthy of exploring.
Can collaboration happen in a variety of ways?
Can collaboration happen at different times?
Can collaboration happen in different spaces?
Of course, the answer is a resounding , "YES!" to each of those questions.
Why then are so many leaders using collaboration as justification for back to office requirements?
Listen, the office can be an excellent resource for employees to achieve success. But ask yourself this question, "Do people collaborate every minute of every hour when they are in the office at the same time?" Bonus question, what is/are the metric/metrics for successful collaboration?
When employees are clear about what is needed and are trusted to deliver measurable results, they will make responsible decisions to do so. That may look very different from team to team and project to project and customer/client to customer/client. (100% autonomy)
However, if results are not being delivered, that is a performance issue and lowering autonomy does not address that. Only appropriate metrics and objective, consistent performance management can do that. (100% accountability)