Navigating the Return to Office with Real Colors: Building Connection in a Changed Workplace

Let’s face it—returning to the office after months or even years of remote work isn’t just about changing your commute routine. It’s about reconnecting with colleagues you may have only seen through video calls, adapting to shared spaces again, and navigating the complex emotions that come with any major transition.

If you’re feeling the strain of this shift, you’re not alone. We’ve heard from countless professionals who describe the return-to-office experience as simultaneously exciting and exhausting, refreshing and overwhelming.

The Human Side of Returning to Office

When we step back into our workplaces, we bring with us all the growth, changes, and adaptations we’ve developed during remote work:

• Some of us have discovered we need more quiet reflection time than we realized
• Others have missed the energy and spontaneous collaboration of in-person settings
• Many teams find their communication rhythms disrupted by the hybrid environment
• And most of us are rediscovering the nuances of body language and facial expressions that weren’t fully visible on screen

At its core, this transition isn’t about policies or desks—it’s about people reconnecting in authentic ways after a significant shared experience.

How Your Personality Colors Your Return Experience

One of the most powerful insights from Real Colors is that we all experience the same events differently, based on our personality temperaments:

If you’re a Blue, you might be genuinely excited to rebuild in-person connections, yet find yourself emotionally drained by the sudden increase in social interaction. You’re likely wondering how to balance your need for meaningful relationships with your newfound appreciation for personal space.

If you’re a Gold, you may have created meticulously organized routines during remote work that now feel disrupted. You might be seeking clear guidelines and structure for navigating this new hybrid reality, while silently worrying about efficiency and productivity.

If you’re a Green, you’re probably questioning the reasoning behind return-to-office decisions, weighing pros and cons, and seeking data to support the change. You want logical explanations, not just emotional appeals, for why in-person collaboration matters.

If you’re an Orange, you might welcome the change of scenery and increased social opportunities, while chafing against rigid new office protocols. You’re seeking freedom, fun, and flexibility in how you navigate this transition.

Finding Common Ground Through Understanding

When our team facilitates Real Colors workshops for organizations navigating the return to office, we witness something remarkable: the moment people understand that their differences aren’t personal—they’re temperamental.

The frustration someone feels when a colleague has different expectations about meeting protocols or workspace preferences transforms into curiosity and compassion. Phrases  of understanding like “That’s so Gold of you!”  become common and replace what criticisms may have been uttered instead.

Building Bridges in the New Workplace

During a Real Colors workshop, your team will:

1. Discover their unique color spectrum, gaining insights into their own communication needs during this transition
2. Learn to recognize the colors in others, developing an intuitive understanding of how colleagues might be experiencing the same changes differently
3. Practice adaptive communication strategies for connecting effectively with each color, creating bridges across different work styles
4. Develop shared vocabulary for navigating conflicts constructively when tensions inevitably arise
5. Create personalized action plans for supporting each team member through the ongoing evolution of your workplace

A Participant’s Perspective

The impact of this approach speaks for itself:

“Real Colors has been a valuable team building and communication resource for Cooperative Extension. I have successfully used it with Extension faculty, staff and partners in many states. It’s fun, informative and memorable. Participants love the experience.”

-Celvia Stovall PhD. CFCS, Associate Director, Alabama Cooperative Extension System

A New Foundation for Workplace Success

Rather than just enduring the return-to-office period, what if your team could use this transition as an opportunity to build deeper understanding than ever before?

In just a few hours together, your team can develop the empathy, language, and tools to transform workplace friction into creative energy. You’ll laugh together, have “aha!” moments about long-standing dynamics, and develop practical strategies for supporting each other through change.

The beauty of Real Colors isn’t just that it helps us understand others—it helps us see ourselves more clearly too. And in times of transition, that self-awareness becomes our greatest strength.

Ready to transform your team’s return-to-office experience from stressful to strengthening? We’d love to be your guides on this journey. Take the first step by reaching out to us at info@realcolors.org.

Resources Available

If your team already has a strong foundation in Real Colors with a Certified Facilitator on staff, Keep Real Colors Alive offers a great way to continue the conversation. 

The ‘Communication Patterns’ activity is useful for teams navigating a return to the office. Facilitating this activity will help them reconnect, collaborate, and understand each other. It’s an easy, ready-to-use resource that builds on what your team already knows—making the transition smoother and more intentional. Take a look and see how it could support your team!