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If you're thinking about making the transition to a more flexible work environment, the positives outweigh the negatives, according to these panel experts from Fast Company Executive Board.  At the start of COVID, remote work opportunities were a necessity to keep business operations and employee communications flowing. Now that things are moving in a familiar direction, some employees are required to return to work, while others are considering companies that are more flexible in providing a permanent hybrid or fully remote workplace environment. It's a mixed bag in terms of how business leaders and their people adjusted to this new way of connecting with their colleagues and clients during and beyond the pandemic.   Below are 14 Fast Company Executive Board members to share their thoughts on whether the hybrid-remote model has disrupted or improved their business focus and ability to navigate one of the biggest workplace transformations.

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The office is just a 10% liability on your balance sheet.

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Maintaining a professional and positive tone, in your response to a colleague's request, can strengthen your business relationship and build common ground. One of the most difficult skills, for some business leaders and their colleagues, is mastering the art of saying "no." This is especially true for those who are just starting out in the industry, trying to become well-established in their professions. On the other hand, saying "yes" to every single project or event that requires your full engagement and bandwidth, can be just as detrimental to your career path if it doesn't align with your business priorities and immediate goals. So don't fall into the trap of being sidetracked.  No matter where you are on the employment hierarchy at your present company and beyond, experts from Fast Company Executive Board agree that turning down a request—from anyone at any level—is appropriate at times in the workplace, especially if you are trying to move ahead on the projects that currently matter most and maintain a good work-life balance.

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It takes a special leadership skill set to successfully motivate and inspire employees that you don't see in person every day. Managing a remote team comes with its own set of unique challenges, especially for companies with remote employees located in different time zones. Employees may struggle to feel like they are a part of a team when working alone from home all day. They may struggle to feel heard without the option of an in-person open-door policy. They may also feel burned out from merging their work and living spaces. Great leaders anticipate problems like these and know how to respond in a way that benefits all. To that end, 15 Fast Company Executive Board members share their best tips for supporting remote employees. 

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When somebody challenges you to grow and reach your potential, chances are you're going to walk away with an important life lesson. Throughout life, most people will encounter someone who challenges them in a good way. These people see the potential in others and harness it by pushing them to reach higher and work harder. While of course, a challenge will be difficult, it can also be a great motivator that helps others to improve in the long run. Below, 15 members of the Fast Company Executive Board shared some inspiring advice they’ve learned from those who have positively challenged them. They describe how those who tested their abilities and showed them they were capable of more have shaped them into the professionals they are today.

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Being an observant but active listener speaks volumes. Just because you're not the most charismatic voice in the room or an extrovert, doesn't mean you're any less qualified to be an effective leader and command attention in the workplace. On the contrary, in addition to your professional background, it's your active listening abilities and emotional intelligence that draws people into your conversation.  To drive these points even further, a panel of Fast Company Executive Board members share 11 reasons why it often pays to be an introvert at your job.