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Raman got a promotion at work and he couldn’t be happier! But he had to oversee operations in a different city and he had to move away from his family. His transfer completely threw him off.
Situations like these are common in organizations. When you least expect it, there’ll be a surprise waiting for you right around the corner. How do you deal with such changes? You adapt and embrace workplace flexibility. There are many ways to prepare yourself for changes during your career. Let’s begin by understanding what workplace flexibility means.
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Understanding Workplace Flexibility
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The Basic Tenets Of Workplace Flexibility
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Ways To Practice Workplace Flexibility
Understanding Workplace Flexibility
Modern workplaces are often known as ‘fast-paced businesses’ because of constantly changing industry demands. In such scenarios, the needs, expectations and dynamics within workplace settings undergo changes. Flexibility refers to the ability to adapt and adjust to changes with ease. Workplace flexibility, on the other hand, emphasizes the need and willingness to be flexible at work. It prevents you from feeling stifled as you embrace change and step out of your comfort zone. Here are the various benefits of learning how to be flexible at work.
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Your Confidence Gets A Boost
Keeping an open mind and making yourself comfortable with potential changes boosts confidence. You’re well-prepared and exert some control over future changes. Viewing changes as inevitable minimized stress, allowing you to develop effective problem-solving strategies.
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You Learn To Challenge Yourself
Long-term goals aren’t the easiest to pursue or achieve. By strengthening your flexibility skills, you learn to develop a growth mindset—that makes you willing to learn from the past and work toward self-improvement. It helps you stay resilient in the face of challenges that affect your long-term goals.
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You Overcome Personal Setbacks
We often make the mistake of setting unreasonable standards or expectations for ourselves (and sometimes others). When things don’t go as planned, we are unable to make peace with setbacks or failures. Flexibility skills can help you establish reasonable expectations and work toward realistic goals.
The Basic Tenets Of Workplace Flexibility
A majority of jobs prioritize flexibility skills because of new and changing responsibilities. It benefits you as much as it benefits the organization. You learn new things, adapt to changing environments and grow as a professional. Problem-solving, critical thinking, communication and teamwork are some popular examples of workplace flexibility skills. It further improves the overall productivity and efficiency of an organization. Here’s how workplace flexibility plays out in the corporate world.
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Flexible Employees
Employees with a flexible mindset don’t say ‘it’s not my job’. Instead, they’re keen on taking new assignments and responsibilities. They modify their approach based on the workload and current demands of a situation. Some of the ways in which employees demonstrate workplace flexibility are:
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Upskilling or reskilling to expand their knowledge base and skill set
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Offering to work extra during crunch periods or busiest times of the year
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Keeping their work aside to accommodate urgent or emerging problems
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Flexible Employers
Flexibility can be a part of management as much as it can be part of an employee’s life. Workplace flexibility is an effective way to manage, engage and retain employees. For example, flexible managers accommodate different learning and working styles—allowing everyone in their team to grow and flourish at their own pace. Here are several other ways for embracing flexibility as a manager.
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Praising the performance of a productive employee motivates them to do better
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Hearing what everyone has to say in team meetings—being open to diverse perspectives
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Providing constructive criticism so that individuals learn from their past mistakes and grow more holistically in their roles
Ways To Practice Workplace Flexibility
Using your flexibility skills in the workplace has many benefits. You’re motivated and it further increases your morale and you find meaning in the work you do. Here are several strategies to sharpen flexibility skills at work and impress employers.
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Broaden Your Perspective
You’ll find it easier to communicate and collaborate with others when you’re open to multiple viewpoints. Always listen attentively and respectfully. If you don’t agree with someone, continue to communicate in an objective manner. Never let your emotions reflect your disagreement.
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Overcome Limitations
Learning is a never-ending process. There will always be opportunities to expand your knowledge during your career. Keep an open mind and consider taking classes or training programs that’ll help you specialize in particular areas. This not only boosts your career but also benefits the organization.
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Make Peace With Change
Change is inevitable in fast-paced organizations. You can’t always exercise control over your projects, which is why you need to make peace with changes. Moreover, changes can provide interesting experiences that provide new learning opportunities. It’ll also help you minimize the stress that comes from unexpected scenarios.
Harappa Education’s Embracing Change course will equip you with an increased ability to take risks and deal with stress and uncertainty, manage failure, put mistakes behind you and seek new opportunities even after facing setbacks. Step outside your comfort zone like a boss!
Explore topics such as What is Change Management, How to Embrace Change, Change Management Process, Change Management Strategies & Understanding Resistance to Change from Harappa Education and learn to adapt to change quickly.
