How to ask your boss for more flexibility at work Find your ‘flex’
Despite the many challenges of the pandemic, there are still plenty of reasons to be optimistic about work. Before the dramatic changes caused by the coronavirus, many businesses insisted that working in an office every day was the only way to ensure accountability and performance. But lockdowns and the necessity for work-from-home strategies have forced companies to reconsider how work happens and how much flexibility they can afford employees.
Researchers have found that possessing greater amounts of choice and autonomy contributes to workers’ engagement, fulfillment and happiness.
Together, these factors improve the health of workers and a business, overall. Here are some ways to find your “flex,” along with a few ways to approach your manager for accommodations.
Reframe the definition of flexibility
Location of work: The flexibility of working from home has received the most attention during the pandemic. And for some people, it is a marvelous new routine.
According to a recent survey by Steelcase, where I am on the research team, people appreciated no commute, more time with their families, and greater autonomy and flexibility. Who doesn’t love to work in their fuzzy slippers with their dog at their feet?
But people also experienced more isolation, slower decision-making and less clarity around their responsibilities.
And when people weren’t satisfied with remote work, they actually saw decreases in productivity, engagement and innovation.
Of course, home isn’t the only place you can work. It’s likely you’ll have the ability to work from practically anywhere. With hands-free technology or earbuds, you can even take a low-pressure call during your train commute. When work can happen from anywhere, options are expanded. When the world opens up further, you may be able to ask for access to your company’s nearby location or to a coworking space.
Also consider how you can gain more control of your workday within your office. Determine if you can get a second monitor or an adjustable desk, so you can toggle between sitting and standing. If your workplace has reopened, consider asking to work in various parts of your office or company campus.
Timing of work: The pandemic has also offered a lesson on flexible work hours. Perhaps you’ve taken your lunch break to help your child with math. Or maybe you’ve gotten an early start on the day so you could go for a jog. This flexibility in hours is another way to think about how work fits into your life.
Content of work: Also consider flexibility in the “what” of your work. Many companies have become more flexible in how they organize work to meet shifting customer needs amid the pandemic. This can pave the way for new opportunities or projects for you.
A simple place to start is to suggest projects or departments to your manager where you can spend a small amount of time to make a contribution.
Asking for more flexibility
If you’re going to ask for more flexibility — in any area — here are five ways to approach your boss and get a “yes.”
Perform extraordinarily. Asking for any kind of flexibility must be based on delivering great results and having a positive track record. Work is an exchange, and we humans value reciprocity — we give to get. So, if you’ve proven your skills and made a great contribution to date, you’ll be in a strong position to ask for more flexibility. If you’re having trouble showing your engagement, it may be wise to shore up your performance before you make requests.
Deliver a straightforward request.
Rather than suggesting in a general way that you’d like more flexibility, provide details. Maybe you want to work from home mornings before 9 a.m. Or perhaps you want to request a second monitor. Whatever your desire, be specific. Also suggest a trial period. Often, leaders are more open to trying a flexible approach when they know it isn’t a forever decision. Suggest you try the new approach for three months, and then agree to see how things are going.
Consider the business and your team.
Work is always a balance between you, your team and the company, so be clear about how you’ll ensure team and organizational needs are met. If you want to contribute to a project outside your department, be clear about how your other work will get done. If you’re hoping to work away from the office on Fridays, show how that’s useful to your employer (maybe you’ll be more accessible through chat). Remember anything you ask for yourself will have a domino effect on your colleagues and their work — so be considerate and ensure you’re not unintentionally putting additional pressure on your teammates.
Keep lines of communication open. High levels of trust make flexiblility work. Be transparent with your manager and team members and keep them abreast of what you’re working on. Stay accessible, so people know how to get in touch with you.
Don’t go overboard. Be sure you’re staying visible and maintaining relationships with colleagues and leaders. The saying “out of sight, out of mind” is true, and for the health of your career, you’ll want to stay on their radar screen. Ask for flexibility, but be sure you continue to stay in touch and build your social capital face to face and in the office.
Greater flexibility may be one of the best results of the pandemic, and it’s a terrific time to ask your boss to accommodate the conditions that will help you do your best work. Leaders want to keep great employees, and you’ll be in the right place to take your flexibility — and your career — up a notch as you move forward.