Flex Fundamentals for Managers-Course Outline

As you may know, workplace flexibility has reached a tipping point among employers. When referring to flexibility, we’re not just talking about flexible schedules. We’re talking about rethinking when, where, and how team members do their best work. When developed properly, flexible workplaces set up the ideal win-win situation where the organization meets its strategic needs while team members better integrate work and personal life.

–Properly preparing managers for their experience and skills for managing in your flexibility program is one of the most important steps you will take in assuring the success of your program.–

To ensure your program success, e-work.com offers the “Flex Fundamentals for Managers” module. This eLearning module is designed to provide managers with the insights, knowledge, processes, tools and practical skills they need to lead successful, flexible work teams in their organization.

There are four primary course learning objectives in this module that prepare managers, including:

1. Learning ways that flexibility can help their organization succeed:
Forward thinking executives don’t think of flex as something they’re “giving” their workforce or “allowing” team members to do. Rather, they realize that flexible work is a smart operational strategy of today’s modern organization. If managers in your organization tend to be generally resistive to change or to worker flexibility, this first section is essential for gaining their buy-in. Managers learn:

  • The potential impact of flex activity in the organization
  • A strong business case for flexibility
  • Details on the program strategy and objectives

A key goal of this section is to have managers realize the organization’s commitment to its workplace flexibility program and that all managers are expected to be active participants in its success.

2. Understanding the flexibility program guidelines:
There are many considerations that go into the design of a flexible work program. In determining flex options, your planning team challenged traditional assumptions about when, where, and how individuals do their best work. This section is fully customized to present an overview of your flexible work guidelines, providing managers essential program detail they can share with their team including:

  • A snapshot of each flex option available
  • Key program logistics, including team member appropriateness, handling participation requests, work at home safety, and other important considerations

With this knowledge, managers are prepared to coach team members on how the program works, personal eligibility criteria and the various flex work options that are ideal for individual situations.

3. Evaluating and acting on flexible work requests:
While your organization offers flexible work arrangements to meet important strategic objectives, team members are not entitled to flexibility. However, managers are reminded that all individuals should have access to it if they qualify. In this section, managers are shown how to:

  • Consider organizational needs and individual capabilities in their selection decisions
  • Be creative in saying “yes” to a flex request by stimulating personal improvements that flex work can inspire
  • Turn saying “no” to a flex request into a coaching opportunity for team member growth and improvement

Managers are encouraged to be creative, to coach all team members toward a personal growth path, looking for opportunities to say “yes” whenever possible.

4. Best practices for leading a flexible work team:
In this final section, managers learn ways that managing a flexible team can advance organizational goals, help maintain team connections, and keep their team aligned with core values. The manager’s role in ensuring flexible work success is reinforced when they:

  • Create a flexible work environment and culture in their work team
  • Seek support from the HR team when needed
  • Develop and practice a communication plan containing clear objectives and performance metrics
  • Set up “Rules of the Road” that align expectations with work processes

In this final section, managers are reminded of the critical role they play in leading a flexible team toward success through creative strategy, leadership skills, excellent communication, and seeking support as needed.

–All obsolete practices were at one time new and innovative. Great managers know when to replace obsolete practices with technology-enabled new ones.–

Properly preparing managers for managing flex workers is one of the most important investments you will make in assuring the success of your program. This module, along with a well-developed policy, procedures and communication plan, will provide managers with the insights, knowledge, processes, tools and practical skills they need to lead successful, flexible work teams in your organization.

Customizing Your Course: This e-Learning module is easily customized with your content, messaging and images using our exclusive Rapid e-Learning Development Engine. We start you off with our fully detailed best practices content on MS Word documents. You simply edit these documents with your content and images and return them to your e-work.com production team. We then map your changes into our automated e-Learning system, and you’ll typically see your changes in the online module within 24 hours.

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See the Evolving Workplace e-Learning Series: Technology-enabled workplace change can only be successful if the people change too. The e-work.com Evolving Workplace e-Learning Series modules accelerate workplace change through a deliberate mindshift in individuals, teams and the enterprise to work together in new ways.

Click here to learn about the Work Practice Change e-Learning Series modules.