Embracing flexibility

Embracing flexibility in leadership and production environments goes beyond adjusting timelines, reacting to feedback, or changing an element at the last minute. This mindset requires leaders to view challenges and last-minute changes not as setbacks but as opportunities for innovation and growth. There are three ways being a more flexible leader can help your team.

First, as a leader, you play a crucial role in fostering a culture of continuous learning within your team. By encouraging your team members to grow, you equip them with the skills to adapt when changes occur. This proactive approach makes flexibility a natural response rather than a forced strategy. I think about an environment I have spent most of my life in: the church.

So often, we are afraid of changes that go against a service because that means more work for us and can cause our team of mainly volunteers stress. Let me encourage you church people for a second. Change is okay! By developing your team to learn their positions deeper and growing them outside of service time, they will be more equipped to handle changes as they come in. It doesn't mean there will still not be stress or fear, but confidence will begin to rise in them, empowering them to grow in their roles.

Second, flexibility is about being open to change and resilience in uncertainty. Production work often involves unforeseen challenges, such as technical difficulties or changes in expectations. Leaders who can stay calm and focused under pressure set a powerful example for their teams, showing that adaptability and perseverance go hand in hand.

Lastly, creating a flexible environment doesn't mean abandoning structure. A flexible leader understands when pushback is needed or when they and their team can execute. Striking this balance is essential for ensuring that creativity and productivity can coexist, leading to successful outcomes that meet both the creative vision and the project's logistical demands.

As you walk away from this, I know it can stir many emotions and be crazy to think about the next step. A great next step may be to listen instead of reacting to a request and thinking of an easy way to accomplish what is asked of you and your team.