Almost every day, I talk to online marketers or web professionals who feel as though their professional--and sometimes even personal--lives are spinning out of control. As they struggle to meet their responsibilities in the workplace, at home and to themselves, they begin to feel increasingly that they are not doing well enough in any area of their lives.
The world that we live in is a challenging one. New technology means that more and more companies are dealing in global markets and across different time zones, and even local retail customers are no longer prepared to settle for 9-to-5 service. For today’s workers, these things mean greater opportunities for flexible working patterns than ever before.
Flexible working provides advantages for anyone who wants to maintain a better work/life balance, particularly those of us who work in busy web and online marketing environments. These advantages might include decreasing "dead" time due to long commutes; better fulfilling their roles as parents, partners or caregivers; recovering some sense of a social or personal life; or simply fitting their work schedules to their natural body clocks to become sharper or more productive. Greater flexibility can also allow employers to become more competitive and gain better results, creating a win-win situation for all.
If you think that a revision to your working patterns could tip your work/life balance in the right direction, then speak to your employer. You could be doing yourself and your employer an enormous favor! To learn more about how large and small companies have implemented flexible work arrangements, check out the Results-Only Work Environment site at www.gorowe.com.
Do you utilize flexible work arrangements in your company? If so, how is it working for you and have you found that it has increased your productivity, creativity or results?
Lisa Kirschner
Managing Editor, Content 911
Managing Director, Flair Interactive Services Inc.