At Kadence, we’ve always believed in the power of flexibility, data, and community to reshape how we work. But this latest Kadence Connect session with Perry Timms reminded me just how urgent and human this transformation really is.
Perry doesn’t just work in organizational design. He challenges us to reimagine it. What if workplaces weren’t built around hierarchy, but around human flourishing? What if hybrid work wasn’t about balance sheets or badge swipes, but about energy, rhythm, and imagination?
Here are the three biggest takeaways I walked away with. And why I think every hybrid leader should hear what Perry had to say.
We’re All Running Two Organizations And That’s Okay
Perry’s idea that every organization today is both legacy and future was eye-opening. It’s not about making a clean switch into some ideal version of “future of work.” It’s about navigating the messy middle where the old and new exist side by side. That’s why so many of our customers feel behind. Because the pace of change is relentless and nonlinear.
But instead of being overwhelmed, Perry argues we should embrace this as a time of creative construction. Everyone, at every level, should be part of shaping what’s next. That only happens if we build systems and rhythms where people can give feedback, test ideas, and feel ownership in what we’re building together.
Start With Passion and People, Not Policy
One of the most powerful ideas Perry shared was around capability pools and resident experts. Instead of dividing teams by department, he suggested organizing them around shared missions and deployable skillsets. This approach, already used in big pharma, creates a much more flexible and responsive organization.
The same thinking can apply to hybrid strategy. Don’t wait for the perfect top-down policy. Instead, find your internal champions. People who care deeply about improving the experience. Empower them. Create a hybrid task force that includes facilities, HR, leadership, and frontline voices. Build momentum from the ground up.
We Need the Data and the Stories
This line has stayed with me. At Kadence, we’re investing heavily in tools like Insights Plus and Surveys to give our customers the data they need to make better decisions about space usage, team collaboration, and hybrid patterns.
But the goal isn’t just metrics. It’s meaning. What’s happening in one office that’s creating better engagement? What unexpected moments—like cage-free time in Utah or pet-friendly coworking in Michigan—are actually drawing people in?
This is where data and feedback come together. One gives you the signal. The other tells you the story behind it.
If there’s one thing I took away from Perry, it’s that this moment demands curiosity, courage, and compassion. Let’s stop chasing rigid models of productivity and start designing for possibility instead.
If you want to explore how Kadence can help, book a demo with our hybrid experts.
