Nov 16, 2020
Flexibility in times of the gig economy
How to position your organisation sustainably
Flexibility will be a crucial factor of success to attract the best talents in the future.
Different countries embraced change in different ways. While some struggled to adapt their working culture to the new circumstances, others had a long-planned in place for situations like the one we face right now. In Germany, they recently even had an initiative suggested by the secretary for work and employment. He suggested implementing a law which gives people a legal right to work from home 24 days per year. After recent experiences with GDPR laws, the excitement for another bureaucracy monster was limited. He dropped the idea quickly.
However, people were shocked to hear that some organisations now have generous flexibility rules in place which will stay in place in the future will others cannot call their people back into the offices quick enough.
The main question is: how much flexibility do you need?
Management By Exception
The approach of Management by Exception means that you only intervene when it not possible to refrain from doing so. This approach showed great success in today’s times. Excellent ideas on how to offer flexible working solutions often came from the teams themselves. Why not use their ideas in the first place? Of course, you need to evaluate if the solutions which you chose to work correctly. A ‘can-do attitude’ is the right way to go in the times we are in right now. Look at your team and observe who excels from the group. You may already have a future leader amongst without even knowing it before.
Facts vs Fears
The main concerns against offering a long-term solution for more flexibility often come from senior leaders. Their traditional approach to the working world is hardly ever appreciated. Still, they are in charge and can make final decisions. Be sure to make your decision based on facts. Fears and feeling are not facts. You must have reliable, valid and accurate facts, science-backed studies and proper proof to make a statement against flexibility in today’s working world.
Frequently made statements which are neither fact-based:
- “My experience tells me that we should not do it.”
- “This is my department, and I know how to run it.”
- “People do not work properly at home. That’s why we all return to our offices as soon as it is possible.”
Stick to facts over fears. Science wins. Always.
Win-Win?
It goes without saying that you have an interesting in attracting great talent. However, an attitude of seeing the disadvantage of a solution first will make you innovation curve fall flat. Create a win-win situation by allowing people to experiment, evaluate facts over sticking to fears and then sit together to decide together about your future working environment. Your team will thank you for doing so.
