flexibility

The Power of Flexible Work Schedules

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At the Red Barn, we have a standard 8-4 schedule, but we still consider it a flexible work schedule – meaning Jenn and I will typically log in to Skype around 8 am EST to connect and Jenn usually checks out around 4 pm to head to the gym but that’s about as structured as we get.

I learned early on in my career that my most productive and creative time is before the sun comes up.  (I’m writing this before 5 am)  I also know that by 2 pm on most days my brain is done for the day – mainly because I’m up at 4 and I’ve put in a good 8 hour day.  I try my best not to schedule meetings in the afternoon – but that doesn’t always happen because like any business I have customers and it’s important that I meet them where they need to be!

I know the productive times of my team and I let them work when they are in the zone and I surely don’t push them to do work when I know it will be a struggle – unless we are in an all hands on deck situation for a client.  PS – we try to avoid those moments but it happens!

Knowing your team is critical.  Knowing when they are productive is key if you want to run an efficient and effective ship.  This also includes watching for the “I need a mental health day” cues.  Everyone has a bad day or even a day when you just “can’t” for whatever reason – I just hone in on those cues and give my team the option to go home, quit early or run away from life for a few hours if that’s what they need to do.

In the end, I focus on getting GOOD work out the door – I really don’t care when that work gets done. I do care HOW it turns out.  I don’t care if someone wants to not work on Monday and would prefer to work on Sunday – I just need to know ahead of time.  I also don’t really care about the number of PTO days taken – in fact, I usually have to remind team members to take their vacation time.  Because I don’t hang PTO over their head and I only track it because I have to for HR reasons – the PTO time never gets abused.  Well, at least it hasn’t up to this point.

The flexible work schedule doesn’t work for every employee or for every business – but if you are open to trying it and seriously letting go of the corporate structure mindset – you just might be amazed at the results. Need an example – look at Microsoft – they had a 40% productivity boost when they switched to a 4 day work week.

Happy Employees = Happy Clients = Increased Revenues

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Do you have what it takes to be your own boss?

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Are you sick and tired of working for someone else? Putting in long hard hours just to benefit the owner of the company and shareholders? Working the 9 to 5 grind week after week with no end in sight? Yup, we’ve been in your shoes. We know how it feels. Depending on the culture of the place you work at, you feel like just another cog in the wheel. So, are your finally ready to be your own boss and start your own company? GREAT!

The first thing you need to know about being your own boss is that it isn’t all rainbows, glitter, and unicorns. It is liberating and exciting, but it has its pros and cons just like anything else. Before you ride off into the sunset to start your own company, make sure you know what you’re in for.

Setting Your Own Schedule. I think this is one of the biggest draws to being your own boss. You have the freedom to create your own schedule. However, you may find that like so many other business owners, you are working longer hours than you anticipated. You still have the flexibility to determine when your day starts and ends, when you take vacations, and handle all your personal obligations.

Creative Freedom. You determine what your products and services will look liked, when they will be available, and how you want to deliver them. If something isn’t working, you have the power to revise those offerings to ones that customers may respond better to or terminate them if they no longer interest you in providing them anymore.

Creating Your Own Core Values. You get to set the tone for how your company is see. What’s most important. You can align it with your own personal values and infuse it into every aspect of the company.

Money. You don\’t draw a regular paycheck, not like you would if you were an employee of someone else. You get paid with what is left after expenses, taxes, etc. And you are solely responsible for generating your income. If your business idea flops or you don’t follow the right steps to create a successful business, you could lose your entire initial investment. BUT you also aren’t limited to what you can earn. If you work hard and set yourself up for success, it\’s possible to generate great wealth when you run your own enterprise.

Tax Benefits. Business owners can take advantage of a range of tax benefits despite paying higher Social Security and Medicare rates. They are allowed to accelerate or delay particular expenditures, hire family members and write off a greater variety of business expenses. These options can dramatically reduce the tax burden.

Health Benefits and Retirement. You’ll have to pay for your own health insurance unless you have a spouse who works at a company who provides them. If you are purchasing them yourself, you’ll find that you are paying higher premiums vs. what you paid as an employee. You’ll also be responsible for contributing to your own retirement account without any employer match.

Being your own boss can be both satisfying and terrifying. If you put in the hard work and dedication, you can achieve success in being your own boss. Just remember that it does come with its advantages and disadvantages – and you have to look at them all. The best way to make sure you start out on the right foot, is to have a mentor or coach, who can help you set yourself up for success and make sure you are ready to take the leap. Being your own boss can be far more rewarding than you can imagine.

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Is Work and Life Balance Really Achievable?

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Here at Red Barn Consulting, we absolutely love our jobs — What could be better than working with fantastic clients, building a team of fearsomely good people, and sharing what makes your business brilliant with the world?

But, even we know you can have too much of a good thing. It’s why there’s no end of articles on work and life balance — Trying to spin the plates of work, home, friends, family, and commitments simultaneously, without losing your mind.

Honestly — we’re not sure that’s the very best approach. That’s why we think about work life balance a little bit differently (big surprise)!

Balance = Flexibility – To us, it’s all about flexibility — Knowing what you want to do and getting rid of what you don’t. It’s not about jumping the “work” hurdle and then the “life” hurdle, but about making those hurdles smaller. Then you don’t need to waste time worrying that you might stumble.

Why do we think this way? Well, employers are demanding, especially if that employer is you! (Yep, the self-employed are probably the worst at separating work and personal life…) Because of those demands, you probably will check email after 6 PM, work late to get the presentation out the door, and crunch through the weekend to put the proposal together.

For good or bad, it’s what’s expected — But think about this in terms of flexibility and removing the time-wasting stuff, and things get much easier.

If you’re an employer, be flexible in how you let your team work. If they need to work from home occasionally, give them the opportunity. If they’ve worked late and need to leave early to watch their child in a school play, give them the time off with your blessing. Provide your employees with autonomy and let them manage their days — They know what they need to do and when they need to do it, so build trust by letting them decide how.

As an employee, it never hurts to ask. Demonstrate to your boss how you’ve made their lives easier through the work you’ve put in. Ask about flexible working arrangements that will let you spend quality time with your family. If you can demonstrate good work, your employer will probably be open to your suggestions.

Remember, working is a give and take relationship — If both sides respect one another, it becomes less about work and life balance, and more about what works best for employer and employee.

Second to flexibility is getting rid of the stuff that’s just wasting your time. You’ve probably heard of the “Pareto Principle” — That 80% of results comes from 20% of actions. It’s time to find that 20% and cut out as much of the other stuff as you can. Keep a log of what you’re doing on a daily basis for a couple of weeks and ask yourself “Is this making the business better?” If it’s not expanding the business, making things more efficient, bringing in greater revenue, or enhancing how you work, get rid of it.

Be ruthless — Talk to your colleagues and your boss and get them to take on the same mindset. Look at the waste in the business — The processes that could be improved, the way that you and others work. Then, make a conscious choice to change, and encourage others to change with you.

And that’s really it — There’s no big secret to work and life balance, other than approaching it differently. Think of it as flexibility, and not some magical target you have to reach, and you’ll be much happier (trust us, we know!) Cut out the stuff you don’t want to do, be awesome at what’s left, and there will be no stopping you.

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