The sequencing that generates the most reliable outcomes: (1) Begin with employee listening (Keystone 1) before finalising any policy — 4–6 weeks of structured surveys and 1:1s. (2) Establish the measurement framework (Keystone 2) before strategy launch, so baseline data is captured. (3) Define the voluntary attendance design principles (Keystone 3) that will guide physical investment decisions. (4) Deploy acoustic infrastructure (Keystone 4) before or concurrent with the strategy launch — not after. The acoustic gap is the most common reason employees self-select away from the office; closing it first maximises the return on all other hybrid investments. (5) Validate the acoustic gradient (Keystone 5) through 30-day utilisation data and adjust pod deployment as needed.