How Flexible is your Work Environment?

Here is the second workplace assessment that will help you determine how flexible your workplace really is:

Another term for flexibility is “laid back” or “easygoing.” Determining the flexibility of your work environment is an important first step toward defining your workplace culture.

First and foremost, its important to remember that there is no right or wrong way to be—whatever works best for your company and management style is key. Defining this in order to give your employees an idea of what is expected of them will boost productivity and attract individuals who naturally fit that style.

In order to determine the flexibility of your workplace, consider the following questions:

How important are procedures? Is there a strict way to do everything, from ordering supplies to logging customer calls? Or are employees free to use their own methods to accomplish their work? Are there forms and paperwork for most tasks?

Who makes decisions? Is there a hierarchy of decision-making before an idea sees fruition? Or are employees free to try different ideas on their own?

Is variation encouraged? Are employees punished when they do something that’s not of the standard, even if the ultimate goal is still accomplished? (Example: a waitress writes “hamburger” on an order pad, and presents it to a cook, who makes her a hamburger. However, corporate policy dictates that the proper code for ordering is “HB.” The cook knew what she meant and the guest received their hamburger. Some environments shrug this off, as long as the goal is complete. Others council their employees to be more careful for the sake of uniformity—lack of structure can lead to a breakdown in the kitchen, etc.)

What about the little things? Are employees expected to clock in and out at a certain time each day, no exceptions? Or is it okay if they come and go as necessary, as long as their work is done on time and they fulfill their hourly requirement? Is lunch taken at a certain time each day? Are breaks timed? Is there a work-issued uniform?

On a scale of 1 to 10, how flexible is your work environment? Ten being “anything goes” and 1 being “HB means hamburger, no exceptions.”

Again, there are no right or wrong answers. Many work environments operate at maximum success when everyone follows a certain structure. Others find they flourish when employees are encouraged to go with the flow or do what works best for them.

Getting an idea of how the flexibility of your work culture compares to others will help your employees/colleagues to fit in and function in a way that best compliments your company.

*This assessment test was created by Melissa Dylan