I work in leadership positions but I’m almost never in the office. Some say this sounds impossible. I think it’s the perfect match. In many of my roles as an interim leader, I’m not in the same city as the company I’m working with, and despite engagements that typically last six months or more, I choose not to relocate. Instead, I work remotely. This approach often raises eyebrows during contract negotiations, with concerns like, “You should be in the office at least twice a month for a few days.”

I highly recommend listening to this episode of The Ezra Klein Show, featuring a conversation with Jennifer Pahlka, author of "Recoding America: Why Government Is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better". The episode kicks off with a powerful quote from the book. It serves as a perfect reminder to resist jumping to conclusions and instead take the time to delve deeper into the underlying issues: “When systems or organizations don’t work as you think they should, it is generally not because the people in them are stupid or evil. It is because they are operating according to structures and incentives that aren’t obvious from the outside.” Enjoy!