How to ask for flexibility at work while showing commitment to my job
For the last six years,my priorities have been all out of whack. It was work, family, health, and then everything else. I had a career to pursue, a mission to accomplish, and a very specific goal in mind for what success looking like and in order to get there – I need to place work first.
But what happens when you throw a kid or two into the mix? Obviously, the priorities change. When priorities change, so does our preference for employers. Suddenly flexibility becomes a priority before all else.
I talk to a lot of people who tell me regularly that their job is just okay and that they reason they stay with an employer is for the flexibility. They prioritize their family’s needs before their own and they truly want to invest their most valuable time in the most valuable thing in their lives: their children.
This is so admirable and something I can relate to an instinctual and a personal level. Like those I speak to, I have the same goals and priorities for my future. And in writing this article, I’ve realized that prioritizing my family does not means I have to stop growing in my career – in fact, it’s the exact opposite.
When I am growing, learning and excited about my career, my family is better for it (and not just financially).
My career is a huge part of my identity, whether I like it or not. My job is more than a job – it’s what challenges my viewpoints, pushes me to grow, and builds my confidence. One bad day at a job I love versus one bad day at an awful, terrible, no-good job has a huge effect on how I behave and how I feel about myself.
It’s the difference between being a productive and helpful member of my family (although a bit annoyed by the day I just had), and a far worse version of myself. You all know the version I’m talking about: the one who can down an entire bottle of wine while watching bad cooking show marathons and ranting about my day.
7 tips for conquering the flexibility conversation with your employer:
- Investigate the existing policies within your company. Perhaps there is greater flexibility than you’re aware of. Policies regarding working from home, flex time, and leaving early or coming in late for a personal matter should be fully defined.
- Don’t be afraid to request changes to existing policies. Bring examples from other companies in your industry to the discussion. There are many companies which have implemented flexible work schedules into their organizations and bringing a solution-oriented approach to the request can be seen as resourceful. In some industries, a reminder of the flexibility offered at competitor employers can be a good way to prompt a discussion and lead to change too.
- Pull together your most impressive Brag Book information and remind your boss of the awesome work you’re doing and how you’re committed to this level of performance no matter the situation.
- Propose a trial run to demonstrate your commitment to your work and your high levels of performance.
- Craft clear expectations around what is expected of you, your boss, and your employer when it comes to the new flexibility, especially around communication.
- Explain clearly how this added flexibility will help you and your employer.
- Create a plan for regular review of your new flex schedule, so both your manager and you have ample opportunity to discuss what’s working and what needs improvement or changes.
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Hi, I’m Jessica
As an internationally recognized legal marketer and law firm executive, Jessica has spent her career helping attorneys pitch their services and their resumes to some of the largest global companies and CEOs in the world. Her specialty: Helping smart professionals be unforgettably hire-able. Whether you are seeking your first job or a career change, Jessica empowers you step-by-step. Execute simple, yet practical and actionable tasks to get your resume past the stack and into the hands of your next manager.
