Flexibility might seem like a required skill of candidates, but it’s also an important skill for managers. Being a leader means being able to understand and get the most out of your employees. Flexibility plays an important role in being a good manager. Here are three ways your flexibility matters to your workforce.

Should I Be A More Flexible Manager?

1. Adapting Your Management or Communication Style

Being flexible in how you approach managing your employees can make a huge difference in your team’s success. Different people thrive under different management styles. The way you communicate with each team member can be the difference between a successful relationship and unmet expectations. As a manager, you must understand the needs of the situation, and flex to meet those needs.

2. Ability to Respond to a Changing Industry

The ability to adapt to changing situations is not only required of teams but also businesses to succeed in the fast-paced agriculture industry. Technology is rapidly changing the way business is done, and the demands of a project can completely change with little notice. The ability to think on your feet and maintain a calm and professional demeanor as a manager is critical. Your team is looking to you to understand how they should respond to these situations. Responding strategically and keeping the big picture in mind when you are asked to change directions is a skill of the true leaders in the industry. Your flexibility is what will help you navigate uncharted waters and keep your team on board through it all.

3. Embrace Workplace Flexibility Where it Makes Sense

There are several creative ways to offer flexibility to your entire team without sacrificing productivity or accountability. Offering unlimited vacation or paid time off is one of them. So long as employees can deliver on their responsibilities, unlimited paid time off is a wonderful thing to offer. Similarly, the opportunity to perform work remotely can appeal to new hires who may have a difficult commute or perhaps do some of their best work in a coffee shop or at the park. Allowing for remote work has the added benefit of reduced overhead costs of employees, particularly if they are 100% remote. Laptops and other portable hardware are substantially more cost-effective than a traditional office or even cubicle set up. Time-agnostic work and job sharing are two additional forms of flexibility that many employers can really get behind. So long as the work gets done, and done well, the shared benefit for both the employee and employer are well worth the effort.

Are you building a great team of Agricultural Professionals?

The ag industry is one that thrives with the best leaders in business. Increasingly, those leaders need to provide and even model the flexibility and adaptability that businesses need to succeed. To see how your team can benefit from increased workforce flexibility, connect with the recruiting team at Ag 1 Source today.