Flexibility is a form of generosity

Working at a startup offers no shortage of opportunities to be flexible.

On any given day, you might be asked to do any number of unexpected things. Here’s a list from my own work experience.

Reprioritize on the fly when project timeline suddenly gets cut in half.

Jump right in on challenging tasks where you have zero direct experience.

Move workstations to the other side of the office so team collaboration flows better.

Rework your brand positioning in all company communications as the brand mission evolves.

Go all hands on deck for three straight days to triage new piece of legislation that has clients squirming in their seats.

Drop everything you’re doing for thirty minutes to help the team troubleshoot bugs in a new product launch.

Update all copy across multiple platforms to reflect a new brand initiative.

Double down on public relations efforts to capitalize on an overnight media crisis.

Don’t remember reading any of that in the job description.

But as disruptive and frustrating as these types of changes are, what’s your other option? Ignoring them? Going rogue and doing your own thing? Being stubborn and holding your ground just to be right?

Good luck with that.

One interesting way to frame the experience of change is to consider being flexible as a form of generosity. Trusting that when you are willing to accept the marketplace reality, when you are willing to adapt and maneuver your way to something new that works better for the team, that’s actually a gift to the people around you.

Personally, telling myself this story makes the experience of change more meaningful and less stressful. Even if nobody else views my flexibility as generosity, that’s okay.

Channeling my grandiosity into a useful channel helps me get through the day.

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
Do you confront every obstacle with flexibility and patience or with an aggressive reaction?