Self-driving cars are soon entering the streets, as we visit the doctor through our phones and swipe right to find the love of our lives. Our time is defined by urban signs of technology and digital solutions. Despite the rapid pace of developments, the working schedule remains rather traditional. Most companies haven’t evolved much since Henry Ford’s eight hours shifts were established over a hundred years ago.
At NLPR, flexible hours is an integrated part in the way of working. So, my time as an intern has given me some insights to how it actually is to work flextime and which parameters that need to be taken into account.
Within the field of communication, qualities like creativity and problem-solving are highly valued, which don’t necessarily mean that they are best performed when working in an office from nine to five. Accordingly, working flextime is becoming more and more common and new activity-based offices constantly pop up. The flexibility aspect can thereby be considered as a silver lining for a job.
On the other hand, a flexible work-style can create a risk for the team-spirit. According to a new study 74% believe that the business culture is the most vital factor to attract new talents to companies. In order to establish a positive culture at work, the core often lies in the relations between employees, to which the flexibility aspect can cause an obstacle.
However, I believe that Ford’s view of the working hours will soon be outdated. The key factor behind the way of working during his time, the industrialization era, was to achieve maximum efficiency. Today, the relevance of physical presence has shifted to a challenge of a mental presence. To avoid distractions, create awareness and maintain high focus at work, constantly surrounded by different noise, will nowadays require more than just being stationed at your desk at the right time.
To find a balance that considers all aspects of this matter, I will here provide you with a few tips:
- Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone; call your co-workers Even when the office is empty, a quick update is just a call away. This can make you feel more connected with each other and assure that you are on the same page. Additionally, it’s beneficial for the brainstorming of new ideas and solutions.
- Balance of availability and self-discipline. The overwhelming amount of notifications from different social media platforms can cause disruptions in our work flow. Therefore, it is essential to find a balance between being available on collaboration tools and sometimes schedule tasks during times when you are off.
- Prioritize team activities. When not seeing each other on an everyday basis, team building activities becomes of highly important. A simple occasion, like for example a planned lunch once a week, a monthly after work drink or mutual exercise can make a huge difference.
The balance between a flexible schedule and maintaining an attractive business culture may be hard to obtain and requires proactive work in order to get the best out of it. In a world that is in constant change, evaluating accustomed habits and finding innovative solutions can be a prerequisite for success. However, the advantages of flexible hours shines brightly while writing this post at a sun-drenched rooftop terrace.