Microsoft’s RTO Announcement: The Best One Yet
At the Esteemed MBA, we often highlight missteps in corporate communication around management and leadership. But we also make it a point to celebrate when companies get it right. Microsoft’s recent return-to-office announcement, delivered by Chief Human Resources Officer Aimee Coleman, is one of the best we’ve seen.
Why Other RTO Messages Fail
Many companies have stumbled with their return-to-office (RTO) mandates. AT&T and JPMorgan stressed “productivity” as the driver. Others leaned on “restoring trust” between leadership and employees. Both approaches fell flat.
Here’s why: productivity and trust are not convincing arguments. A+ employees are productive anywhere—they could work on Mars and still deliver. And they don’t need to earn leadership’s trust; they already have it. So when executives frame RTO as an issue of productivity or trust, employees rightly push back.
Microsoft’s Different Approach
Coleman’s message struck a different tone. Instead of leaning on questionable arguments, she emphasized the real reason in-person work matters: collaboration.
Humans are herd creatures. We thrive when we can see one another’s contributions. When teams are siloed at home, engineers don’t see the pressure sales carries to close deals, and sales can’t appreciate the complexity of what engineers are building. That lack of visibility breeds frustration and false assumptions—everyone feels like they’re carrying more than their fair share.
Coleman acknowledged that Microsoft Teams is a powerful remote tool, but made it clear that the company’s ambitious AI initiatives require the speed, creativity, and momentum that only come from people working side by side.
Her words capture it best:
“We've looked at how our teams work best, and the data is clear: when people work together in person more often, they thrive—they are more energized, empowered, and they deliver stronger results. As we build the AI products that will define this era, we need the kind of energy and momentum that comes from smart people working side by side, solving challenging problems together.”
What Microsoft Did Right
Start with the Why
Coleman clearly explained the rationale: collaboration drives better outcomes. No mention of trust. No mention of productivity. Just the truth about why proximity matters.Provide Clarity on the When
She gave employees a clear timeline, plenty of notice, and specifics about what happens next. There was no ambiguity.Set Expectations for the How
She outlined who would communicate further details, and what employees should expect in the coming weeks.
This clarity reduces anxiety and signals respect. Employees don’t feel blindsided, and managers have a roadmap for guiding their teams through the transition.
Lessons for Esteemed MBA Students
There are two big takeaways for us:
Better Together: High-performing teams thrive on in-person connection. Listening, questioning, and seeing one another’s contributions builds empathy, trust, and stronger relationships. That trust translates directly into performance.
Lead with Clarity: When communicating change, begin with the “why,” explain “when,” and outline “what’s next.” Clear, concise communication builds confidence and minimizes resistance.
Microsoft’s RTO announcement is an example of management communication done right. For that, we say: Bravo, Aimee. Bravo, Microsoft.
