Process-Driven Flexibility

To many, “process-driven flexibility” sounds like an oxymoron. To these folks, “process-driven” can invoke feelings of rigidity, rules, or an over-prescriptive nature. “Flexibility” is often associated with agility, lax nature, and lack of structure. I’d argue these definitions are too polarizing. In excess, either process or flexibility can be a downfall, but when balanced and paired together, process and flexibility can be the perfect partners to support companies as they scale. 

Have you ever designed a solution for something only for your entire idea to be tossed aside when a small technology or strategy change is made?  It can be frustrating. It often feels like so much time and effort are wasted when you don’t use the solution. Coaching clients often reference leaders they work with who regularly change direction, causing many examples of these periods of “work done for naught.” This can often snowball into change resistance if it’s not tempered. 

On the flip side, have you ever wanted to make a seemingly simple change and been met with resistance? Maybe a “that’s not how the process works” or levels of red tape for approvals? It also can be frustrating. It feels like there is no flexibility where there should be. 

Both examples show that flexibility without any regard for process makes efficiency flounder and processes without any allowance for flexibility prevents scale. 

It is paramount to structure processes to allow for flexibility. This way, you have a structure that supports efficient operations without handcuffing yourself to one specific solution that might change as strategy, vision, technology, or leadership within your organization changes.  

With process-driven flexibility, you can design processes so that much of the work can be pivoted, repurposed and not wasted if there are any changes. Working with process optimization experts can help you efficiently design processes that scale with your organization, limiting the times where your work is obsolete in favor of your work being the steppingstones to future pivots and advancements.  

Next time we are given the challenge of designing a solution, do so with change as an anticipated factor. In this process-driven flexibility, you will be able to reframe changes as an opportunity to continue to optimize your approach rather than a threat to work you’ve done.