Offering Flexibility in Your Business With Nicole Gann

Apr 11, 2023

All business problems are people problems. In today's world, business leaders must leverage their people to create a flexible business that can swiftly adapt to market shifts, tech changes, and economic ups and downs. This agility sparks innovation, improves processes, and tackles challenges head-on, turning disruptions into opportunities. Embracing flexibility through your people ensures long-term success and keeps the company resilient and competitive.

All business problems are people problems. In today’s world, business leaders must leverage their people to create a flexible business that can swiftly adapt to market shifts, tech changes, and economic ups and downs. This agility sparks innovation, improves processes, and tackles challenges head-on, turning disruptions into opportunities. Embracing flexibility through your people ensures long-term success and keeps the company resilient and competitive.

In this episode, you’ll hear from Nicole Gann who is the CEO of the Dallas-based non-profit called Juliette Fowler.  It’s in the elder care industry, which in and of itself is a challenging industry with constant change. Additionally, this company has been around for 130 years, which means she inherited a 130-year-old mission and culture, and a staff of over 200 people that’s been in place for years when she became CEO in 2018.

In this episode, Nicole shares:

  • How leveraging the spirit of people is crucial for organizational success. 
  • Why adopting change, encouraging new ideas, and not holding decisions too tightly allow for better navigation through uncertainty.
  • How you can encourage team members to bring ideas to the table and participate in the decision-making processes, which enhances their connection to the organization and its goals.
  • Why building a sense of community and recognizing individual uniqueness contributes to a healthier, more committed workforce.

Flexibilize to Thrive! 

The modern workforce is becoming more diverse than ever before, with employees ranging in age from Baby Boomers to Gen Z. As a result, employers are finding it increasingly challenging to keep everyone happy and productive. Offering flexibility in your business is a great way to cater to the needs of your multi-generational workforce. Here are three tips for keeping everyone happy:

Offer Work From Home Options

One of the most significant changes in the workforce over the last few years is the shift toward remote work. Offering work-from-home options can be a great way to keep your employees happy, especially for those who have young children or elderly relatives to take care of. It can also be beneficial for employees who may have a long commute or who live in a different city or country. Allowing your employees to work from home gives them the flexibility they need to balance work and personal life.

Provide Flexible Benefits

Another way to cater to the needs of your multi-generational workforce is by offering flexible benefits. This means allowing your employees to customize their benefits package to suit their needs. For example, older employees may prefer health insurance plans with lower deductibles, while younger employees may prefer higher deductibles with lower premiums. Offering a flexible benefits package allows your employees to choose the benefits that work best for them and their families.

Provide Work Autonomy

Finally, offering work autonomy is essential for keeping your multi-generational workforce happy. This means giving your employees the freedom to make their own decisions about how they work. For example, some employees may prefer to work independently, while others may prefer a more collaborative environment. Giving your employees the freedom to choose how they work can help them feel more empowered and engaged in their jobs.

Offering flexibility in your business is essential for keeping your multi-generational workforce happy. By offering work-from-home options, providing flexible benefits, and giving your employees work autonomy, you can create a work environment that caters to the needs of everyone in your organization. Remember, a happy workforce is a productive workforce, so it’s worth taking the time to consider how you can offer flexibility in your business.