Business leaders have learned many lessons during this never-ending pandemic. They have learned that although colleagues miss each other, employees can work from anywhere. They have upgraded their technology skills to be able to connect with others more productively. They have recognized the importance of having teammates check in with each other to make sure everyone is mentally and physically healthy. They have even embraced learning about everyone’s crazy pets. But perhaps the greatest lesson they have learned is the great need for flexibility in their workplaces.
Flexibility recognizes the uniqueness of each team member
When it comes to blending their professional and personal lives, all leaders make different choices in creating their best schedules and workflows. One might want to have breaks during midday and hop on to work later in the evening, whereas another might prefer to keep their nights open for personal time. One might feel isolated and want to meet with their team in person more often in order to build relationships with them, whereas another might thrive more when working at home than in a noisy office.
Just as each leader contributes a unique set of skills and gifts to their work world, each of their employees brings their own unique contributions to the table. Being flexible about how each team member shows up—which includes being open-minded about people’s different personal challenges and welcoming diversity—makes it more likely that employees will be fully present and focused on their work.
Flexibility helps leaders develop their emotional intelligence
Effective leaders know that emotional intelligence (EQ) is a critical skill for success. Leaders can use flexibility to grow their EQ by practicing ways to be more self-aware of their needs for flexibility, to exhibit more understanding of team members’ desires for flexibility in their own work lives, to be less judgmental when a teammate makes a request (such as asking to work in their home office that day), and to be in control of their emotions and careful not to blurt out hurtful thoughts.
Flexibility cultivates kinder and highly productive teams
When flexibility is seen as an important leadership trait and being flexible is encouraged in dealing with people, kindness and more compassionate interactions can result. When team members treat each other with respect, there will be greater collaboration and richer deliverables as people rise to the occasion to fulfill the greater vision.
Flexibility builds leadership skills
When leaders commit to becoming more flexible, many key leadership skills can emerge. They can become stronger and clearer communicators, for example, or able to delegate more effectively (and with more impact). They can become better at playing to team members’ individual strengths, see their influence grow, and help develop future leaders.
Flexibility creates a culture of positivity
A flexible approach enables leaders to build teams whose members better understand each other and interact with dignity, positivity, and trust. By leading with an eye to considering and accommodating others’ professional and personal needs, leaders can create trustworthy teams that, in turn, exhibit their own flexibility and help build a culture of positivity.
