Make flexibility work. Overtime, and how to lead by example.
One of my team received an email from a client this week with the following caveat at the bottom.
"Make flexibility work- if you receive an email from me outside of normal business hours, I am sending it at a time that suits me. I'm not expecting you to read or reply until normal business hours."
I was SO impressed with this and I think it's a simple way to solve a problem many people face. I have had several conversations with managers telling me they don't expect their teams to work overtime, and often have to actively encourage them not to, yet they themselves find themselves sending emails after hours to catch up on their own inbox's when things are busy.
Everyone is wired differently, and different things will suit different people. Ensuring that we follow our own path in terms of when and how we work, and not letting that be the example we set or an expectation we expect of others, is a hard line to walk as a manager.
What about you? Do you think this is good practice, or have you seen or implemented a solution to this issue? I'd love to hear your thoughts as this is something so many professionals wrestle with!
HR Specialist | Program Manager | Inspiring others to achieve greatness
5 年Luke Keddie - you should have added this as your cavet for emails sent late night at PQ! Carrah Jordan what a great read - and so true, so many people with busy schedules can't always get back to emails in work time - especially with the amount of meetings poeple attend, it is also evident for people with families - normal hours may not work as they might be busy with their families and the only time they have is right before bed. I like it!
Simplifying Telco and Technology for the SMB market in Regional Australia
5 年Graeme Johnston?
Managing Director and Founder at PRA
5 年An interesting topic Carrah. As you say we are all wired differently. I am a big believer in replying when I want to, often this will be late evening. However I appreciate I may not feel the same pressure to reply immediately. For me it's all about empowering the individual to work the way that works for them (whist maintaining their success).?
Customer Success Manager (Enterprise)
5 年This came up in some recent O365 mail tips. You can set a delay on send, so while you are getting items done out of hours, they don't get sent until business hours. And thus recipient doesn't feel pressured out of hours.