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How Flexible Work Arrangements Encourage Innovation

businessman hand working with modern technology and digital layer effect as business strategy concept-3Flexibility is the name of the game when it comes to adjusting to these increasingly uncertain times, but managers finding it hard to adjust to flexible work arrangements will be glad to know that there's some method to the madness. In fact, you might find that having you and your team adapt to these new work arrangements leads to a lot of creative problem-solving.

Change is what makes companies grow, and this rings especially true in today's circumstances. From working at home arrangements to allowing your team to work their own hours, read below for some more ways that flexible work arrangements could help encourage innovation.

 

Helps you optimize where possible

Consolidating tasks and getting everyone on the same page is a constant struggle for remote teams. This CIO article goes even further to point out that many businesses may not have even been ready for remote work in the first place.

If this sounds like you and your team, the best thing to do is to start looking at the resources you already have in place. By working with what you have, you and your team will be able to identify any operational issues that need to be resolved.

These growing pains are an important part of our new business norm, and innovative thinking during this time will help establish clearer business processes for the future.

 

Presents more recruitment opportunities

CNBC reports that the COVID-19 pandemic has actually spurred remote hiring, which means it's worth continuing your recruitment search. A flexible work set-up still allows you to schedule meetings with candidates, and it even provides an opportunity to get your team to do a few interviews on their own, too.

As far as hiring trends go, recruitment platform Comeet lists direct outreach as the most effective. Flexible work arrangements open up your employees’ schedules, allowing them to meet potential candidates for informational interviews and the like. This is especially helpful considering internal recommendations can also help you attract top talent.

 

Allows people to work when they are most productive

While most of us are used to the everyday 9-to-5 schedule, that doesn't mean that this is also the time frame where all of us are at our most productive. Some people just naturally work better in the morning, while others prefer to work at night.

Loosening the grip on strict work hours allows people to structure their day around when they're most productive, which can in turn be a huge driver towards innovative thinking. It's hard to think outside the box when you're barely functioning; flexible work hours allow your team members to take advantage of productive spurts at any time of the day.

 

Lets team members contextualize their work

Even as your employees go about their day, they're constantly absorbing information. Let's say your business revolves around selling a product. The small act of having one of your team members notice that your product is (or isn't) on the shelves while running errands then presents an opportunity that you can address.

The best products and services are the ones that can really meet the needs of your target audience... but it's hard to find out what that is when you're stuck at a cubicle.

 

Innovation is an elusive thing, but the right business processes can create an environment to foster innovation. As mentioned in our post entitled How Are Creativity and Innovation Related?, these foundational elements come about when employees are encouraged to learn and work for themselves. Flexible work arrangements can help your team do just that.

 

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