5 Essential Shifts Every Leader Must Embrace Today (08/26/2025)

August 26, 2025

Happy Tuesday!

As you read this, I’m on vacation with Lori, my mom and stepdad. This week was part of their Christmas gift from last year, and we have been looking forward to it. But just because I’m gone, doesn’t mean you don’t get an issue of Unleashing Your Remarkable Potential.

I just unleashed my writing a bit early for you. 😊

Maybe that shows some cosmic alignment with what I am writing below about changing norms when people leave the office. Along with that, I am also extending my thoughts from last week’s article, when I asked if you are ready to lead in the future.

You have probably noticed me talking about Virtual LeaderCon, but you may not have clicked the link or registered (it’s free). If not, now is your chance. I’m willing to bet that joining us for some of this live event will be one of the most meaningful things you do for your development as a leader this year.

Make it a great Tuesday and remember …

You are Remarkable!

Kevin 😊

Is the Workday Changing?

If you work in the office, it might be.

According to an article in the Wall Street Journal (Why We’re Leaving Earlier But Still Showing Up on Time), New Yorkers are leaving the office 13 minutes earlier than in 2019, 19 minutes earlier in Dallas, and 26 minutes earlier in San Francisco. But phone data shows that in those cities, people are arriving about the same time they did before the pandemic.

What should you take from this data? It depends on your perspective.

If you long for the bygone days of work before the pandemic, this may make you shake your head and wonder why people can’t just come to work and work.

If you wonder why we are working in offices at all (or as often as we do), you may praise this as a sign of flexibility and a positive evolution of how we view work.

How do I view it?

  • First, this is aggregate data, and I know your personal situation could be different. It’s possible that the expectations of when you can leave work haven’t changed (and the data might be different in places other than the big cities mentioned). • While I generally see the flexibility shown in this data as a positive thing, all of this is still focused on the wrong thing. For those working on a salary and not by the hour, when and how long people work is less important than the quantity and quality of their work product. As leaders focus on that more, good things will happen for both the organization and those who work in it.

  • Mostly, this study is another snapshot showing us a picture of an evolving workplace and view of work. As a society, we are still trying to figure out what work looks like now. The shifts and changes are finished, and the most effective organizations (and leaders) will continue to monitor these changes to help them create the best options for them.

5 Essential Shifts Every Leader Must Embrace Today

Lots has been written about the future of work – and how it will look different because of viruses, technology, and geopolitical change. There is little doubt that the future will be different. Recently I asked readers this question: as a leader, are you ready to lead in the future? It is a fair and important question, but there is a problem with it.

Thanks for reading. Please reply at any time with questions or feedback for our team.

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