Flexibility

Flexibility

We are often asked to be flexible, and I started wondering how that may look this year. I define myself as a planner and an organizer as I like to have plans for the things I wish to accomplish. I enjoy planning my tasks and activities, even if I have to make sharp turns and quick changes afterward. To me, that is the only way to free up time. With all this planning, where does flexibility stand?

Since time is the one commodity we do not get to replace, I am careful not to waste it. Planning allows me to see how I can achieve goals and work through processes, whether simple or complex. Having a plan is having a roadmap that will guide my actions. In my mind, once I have a plan, I have a list of tasks that need execution. How I prioritize and ultimately execute these plans is where flexibility comes in. Here is a quick example from the kitchen: 

I love to cook, and I compare my planning and flexibility processes to following a recipe. When I prepare a dish for the first time, I like to follow the recipe very closely. After that first try, I like to play with small changes to customize the recipe without changing it too much. This is the same process with plans and execution. I have my plans; I am flexible to adapt, modify, and change them as long as they do not alter the objective. 

Staying Flexible at Work

We need to keep an open mind, to embrace change, and to be flexible at work. At the same time, we need to plan meticulously to be productive and achieve our goals. A lack of planning will only result in the imposition of inflexible moves. Last-minute decisions and the need to act on the spot can be overwhelming as they seem to leave very few open alternatives. 

During the past eight months, I think all of us have been subject to a series of inflexible moves. We were forced to pivot in more ways than one, and we continue to be subject to such sudden turns. While I do not think there is anyone to blame,  I feel that leaders are responsible for having the vision and trying to “see” what lies ahead. Only then will we be able to serve those around us, as we help them plan and adjust to our work’s daily newness.