Work Smarter: Your Quick Guide to Flexible Work

Picture a workplace where success isn’t measured by your hours chained to a desk, but by your results and impact. Enter work flexibility—a strategic approach that creates a balance between work and life, enabling both businesses and employees to thrive together.

A 2024 study at Polytechnic University in Milan highlights that workplace flexibility is about giving employees the freedom to decide when, where, and how they work. Embracing flexibility means understanding it works differently for everyone. We asked Nasdaq colleagues, and we’ve discovered their secrets to creating a flexible work that may work for anyone!

Flexibility in time involves planning and controlling the time spent on tasks. Setting SMART goals, prioritizing tasks based on importance and urgency, and other techniques like Pomodoro Technique, which involves breaking work into intervals using a timer, give you the power to focus on what truly matters. Remember, it's all about working smarter.

Technology is also recognized as a powerful tool for managing time efficiently.  A 2013 survey by APA’s Center for Organizational Excellence found that digital technology helps people to be more flexible. Utilizing tools for daily planning (i.e., Microsoft Planner, Google Calendar) organizing tasks (i.e., Monday.com, Asana,) and building healthier habits (i.e., Stride, Momentum) can significantly improve time management.
 

Flexibility in location is another aspect. While some individuals thrive in fast-paced environment, others perform optimally in distraction-free spaces. This understanding has led to the evolution of work-from-anywhere (WFA) policies. A 2018 Harvard Business Review article revealed a 4.4% increase in employee output when transitioning from work-from-home (WFH) to work-from-anywhere (WFA) arrangements. This productivity boost can be attributed to employees having the freedom to choose their preferred geographic location, by allowing them to create an optimal work environment that aligns with their personal preferences and productivity patterns.

Flexibility on how employees perform their work is an organization’s confidence on it’s employees' judgment, professionalism, and commitment to delivering results. This trust can be cultivated through practical approaches such as setting clear expectations and policies or establishing regular check-ins with managers.

It’s essential to strike a balance and be professional in practicing flexibility. By cultivating self-awareness and aligning with organizational policies, we can create and maintain a harmonious work environment while reaping the benefits of a flexible work.  Because let's face it – when work fits your life, everything just flows better.