Beyonc's daughter Blue Ivy dances to her mum's song in must-see video

Beyonc's daughter Blue Ivy is destined to be a star! The eight-year-old is already following in her parents' footsteps and back in May was captured dancing along to their song Mood 4 Eva, from The Lion King, which they collaborated along with Donald Glover. In the footage, which was posted on Blue's stylist, Manuel A. Mendez's Instagram account, the little girl showcased her moves, dressed in a pastel pink dress and wearing her hair down in braids. Manuel has been working for the Carter family for many years and has been styling Blue since she was a baby, picking out adorable age-appropriate outfits for her public appearances with her famous parents.

As the weeks have dragged on, however, such fancies have quickly proven to be an illusion.

Jaded by trying to fit a workday around homeschooling children, spending too much time with their spouses, and (in some cases) crushing loneliness, many workers are desperate to get back to the office. In fact, a recent survey found that 86 percent of South African office workers are ready to return to their places of work. Similarly, the Wall Street Journal reports that companies are finding that fully remote workforces mean that projects take longer, collaboration is harder, and that training new workers is a struggle.

But how to balance that need for structure with the flexibility a post-pandemic world demands? The key lies in reimagining the office in a way that suits both companies and employees.

Why remote isnt working

It is, of course, tempting to say that the reason companies are struggling with remote work is because of the pandemic. After all, no one can pretend that being confined at home while trying to maintain a relationship with their romantic partner and homeschool their children on the side is simple. Different, but equally stressed out are the younger employees whove had to turn their house-share bedrooms into offices, or been forced to spend all day with housemates they mightve only seen occasionally. As an oft-repeated meme from the past few months points out, were not so much working from home as living at work.

Without the usual perks of remote work, such as being able to decamp to a coffee shop from time to time, have in-person meetings, or hook up with friends early on a Friday afternoon, remote work quickly starts to lose its shine.

But theres more to it than that. In order for remote work to be effective, a company has to be willing to commit to it entirely. Moreover, it has to be sure that its employees are capable of working remotely. Thats why companies that are remote from the start often fare better than those that adopt it as a policy later on.

People whove spent their whole careers in an office are simply likely to feel more comfortable in a properly structured work environment.

The benefits of the office

Its also worth bearing in mind that offices come with benefits of their own, outside of providing somewhere to work. For many people, interacting with colleagues can act as a spark for collaboration and help foster innovation.

That serendipity is one of the main reasons why then Yahoo CEO Marrisa Mayer banned employees from working remotely in 2013. While there was considerable push-back from staff, the reasoning was at least sound. Its also easier to call an all-hands meeting during an emergency when all hands are, as it were, on-deck.

Thats not to say that the traditional office isnt without its pitfalls. Among the reasons most frequently cited for wanting to go remote are constant interruptions and an inability to do so-called deep work.

A different future

Many of those pitfalls can be avoided with a different approach to the office. The traditional method of searching for office real estate, signing long-term leases, and trying to make it work as the organisation grows and shrinks simply isnt tenable any longer.

Instead, organisations should turn to office solutions that can adapt to their needs, no matter what phase of growth theyre in, and which have a deep understanding of what makes for a good, professional office environment. Such a solution also allows companies to easily bring employees into the office when its useful, while allowing them to deep work at home without wasting money on empty desks.

This kind of flexibility also produces savings, which can help companies build resilience against any future economic shocks.