Being flexible when it comes to work is worth a lot. Employees who approach their job with a flexible mindset are typically more highly valued by employers. Flexibility on the job includes the willingness and ability to readily respond to changing circumstances and expectations.  

1. WORKPLACE FLEXIBILITYWORKPLACE FLEXIBILITY
[Definition, Skills, and Examples]
Compiled byCompiled by
Dr. P.B.S. KUMARDr. P.B.S. KUMAR
B,ScB,Sc, MA(PM), MA (, MA(PM), MA (Ind.EcoInd.Eco.) ,MBA(HR),BGL,DLL,PGDIR&PM ,.) ,MBA(HR),BGL,DLL,PGDIR&PM ,P.hdP.hd (in HR)(in HR)
PRINCIPAL DIRECTORPRINCIPAL DIRECTOR
KAKINADA HRKAKINADA HR CONSULTANCYCONSULTANCY SERVICESSERVICESKAKINADA HRKAKINADA HR CONSULTANCYCONSULTANCY SERVICESSERVICES
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2. 2Dr. PBS KUMAR

3. Workplace Flexibility
What does workplace flexibility mean? Why
is it important? Being flexible when it comes
to work is worth a lot. Employees who
approach their job with a flexibleapproach their job with a flexible
mindset are typically more highly valued by
employers. Flexibility on the job includes
the willingness and ability to readily
respond to changing circumstances and
expectations.
3Dr. PBS KUMAR

4. Why Employers Value Flexible Employees
• Workers with an orientation towards flexibility never say,
"It’s not my job" or "Do I have to?" when they are asked to
take on a new assignment.
• Flexible employees modify their approach to tasks based
on the preferences of stakeholders and the unique
demands of each situation.
• For employers, having employees willing to step outside• For employers, having employees willing to step outside
their job description means they can get more
accomplished with workers who are able to take on more
responsibilities, do different tasks, and do more at work.
It also means, that the employer doesn't have to persuade
employees to take on more work. Flexible employees are
willing to do whatever is necessary to get the task
accomplished or the job done.
4Dr. PBS KUMAR

5. Why Employees Value
Flexible Managers
• Flexibility skills are also relevant to the
approach management takes to handling
employees. Flexible managers treat
employees as individuals and make an effortemployees as individuals and make an effort
to accommodate personal styles and needs.
• Managers who are flexible provide workers
with greater latitude about the way they
accomplish goals. They assess the needs of
employees and provide feedback, guidance,
and recognition individually to optimize
performance. 5Dr. PBS KUMAR

6. Share Examples During Job Interviews
Regardless of the job that you
are applying for, it will benefit
your candidacy if you can
show the interviewer examples
of how you are flexible and
willing to change course.
6Dr. PBS KUMAR

7. Examples of Workplace
Flexibility Skills
Flexibility Skills 1
• Admitting an oversight with accounting for expenses and
suggesting alternative ways to avoid similar mistakes
• Allowing employees to work from home when feasible to
help balance work with family responsibilities
• Analyzing the style and preferences of individual
subordinates
• Assessing the needs and preferences of individual
customers
• Customizing cover letters to emphasize skills which
correspond to the unique requirements of target jobs
7Dr. PBS KUMAR

8. Flexibility Skills 2
• Delegating routine tasks in order to focus on priorities
• Enabling non-essential employees to work from home
on snow days
• Enabling workers to vary arrival and departure times
as long as they work the prescribed number of hoursas long as they work the prescribed number of hours
• Initiating an evaluation of alternative processes for
processing loan applications
• Learning complex, new software that will increase
efficiency
• Listening carefully to constructive criticism as part of
a performance review
8Dr. PBS KUMAR

9. Flexibility Skills 3
• Offering to cover the responsibilities of a colleague
while He/She is on vacation
• Offering to work extra hours during a year-end crunch
• Praising the work of a productive employee more
frequently because he/she craves feedback
• Providing release time for parents to attend school• Providing release time for parents to attend school
programs
• Pushing aside the work planned for the day to
respond to an emerging problem
• Rewarding subordinates who make impactful
suggestions
• Shifting attention to a customer entering the facility
even though immersed in detailed task 9Dr. PBS KUMAR

10. Flexibility Skills 4
• Substituting social media for some traditional
communications as a way to engage prospective trainees.
• Surveying clients about their experience with the
company and modifying service delivery based on the
findings
• Tailoring a sales pitch to the unique needs of a customer• Tailoring a sales pitch to the unique needs of a customer
• Volunteering to change your schedule to accommodate
another employee's needs
• Volunteering to take the lead for a key presentation
when a colleague comes down with an illness
• Working overtime to help a colleague meet a deadline for
a funding proposal
10Dr. PBS KUMAR

11. THANK YOUTHANK YOU
WE SHALL MEET IN THE NEXTWE SHALL MEET IN THE NEXT
11Dr. PBS KUMAR
WE SHALL MEET IN THE NEXTWE SHALL MEET IN THE NEXT
SESSIONSESSION