GUIDE

How to pitch working Anywhere to your team.

We’ve all dreamed about working Anywhere after a bad day at the office. You picture an escape from office distractions, dreary decor and stressful commutes. Instead, you imagine working from your favourite coffee shop, creating your own schedule and making time for the family.

That’s the dream, but to achieve that, you first have to pitch the idea of working from home to your team. It can be an intimidating prospect, particularly if they’ve never expressed any interest in flexible working before.

Legal rights to flexible working vary by country, but more companies are beginning to consider it, particularly in creative industries. As the practice becomes more common, there’s greater evidence that it could be a positive move for you and your business.

If you’re ready to take the first step towards working from home, or indeed Anywhere, here are some concrete actions to take the fear out of pitching the idea to your team.

Man writing out a work-from-home proposal for his team

OUTLINE WHY YOU WANT TO WORK FROM HOME

First, you have to ask yourself, why should you work Anywhere? Start by making a list highlighting the key reasons for flexible work. If you’re struggling to come up with reasons, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered.

Of course, it’s important the reasons don’t focus exclusively on your own needs. That means detailing how flexible work will benefit the business. Instead of talking about the extra time you’ll get in bed, focus on how the added time you’ll be able to dedicate to your work.

This doesn’t mean you can’t mention more personal reasons for your request. But it’s important to consider how your team will perceive the suggestion. For HR managers, the first concern will be how a change in working style will affect the business as a whole. Bear in mind that your role is just part of the organisation. Arguing for a better work-life balance is perfectly legitimate. But your argument will be stronger when your frame it by how flexible work will increase your productivity.

Do some wider research around the benefits of working Anywhere. Statistics alone rarely convince people. Instead, try to provide data and real-world examples to support your argument. Know somebody who currently works Anywhere and can offer feedback on how it’s improved their performance? Offer these insights along with the data to cover both sides of the argument.

Working on a work-from-home proposal to begin working Anywhere

MAP OUT YOUR DUTIES AND HOW THEY’LL CHANGE UNDER FLEXIBLE WORK

Pitching working Anywhere to your team is all about keeping it practical. That means, after you’ve laid out your reasons for proposing flexible work, you have to dive into the specifics of how it will work.

By quantifying your daily routine in detail, your team can see exactly how working Anywhere will impact these duties. Break down exactly what you do already (from larger projects to day-to-day tasks) to help your boss understand how it could actually work in practice.

Think of it as if you’re writing a more detailed version of a job description. If you don’t already track your time, it’s worth trying it for a short period to help you. Show how your time in the office is currently spent and explain how these duties can be performed more effectively outside the office.

Calculating your value to the company can also be useful for strengthening your negotiating position. If you can provide details of things like the revenue your ideas and initiatives have generated, your proposals are likely to be taken more seriously.

The easiest way to improve your team’s ability to collaborate when you’re working Anywhere is by using the right tools.

ACKNOWLEDGE CHALLENGES AND IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS

It’s important to be realistic about the challenges Anywhere work can bring. If your proposal sounds too good to be true, your team will be reluctant to believe you. Instead, acknowledge the obstacles. Not only does this demonstrate you’ve considered both sides to the argument, but it also shows you’re committed to overcoming problems.

Put yourself in your team’s shoes and try to address any issues they might raise. Personal productivity and accountability are common concerns, so make sure you cover how you plan to account for these. For example, suggest sending twice-daily updates so your team can verify how you’re spending your time.

Avoid making your proposal exclusively about you and consider the impact on your wider team. If you pursue the daily updates approach, for instance, office-based teammates may have to embrace this too. After all, the real value of progress updates lies in comparing them with your wider team.

The extent to which you’ll have to detail these challenges will depend on the size of your team and the degree of work flexibility you propose. But even without covering every potential problem and solution in your initial proposal, it’s vital you consider them. Anticipating questions in advance means you’ll be able to address them honestly if they’re raised during your pitch.

Woman looking thoroughly pleased with her work-from-Anywhere proposal

PROPOSE A SCHEDULE AND TRIAL PERIOD

If your office doesn’t have an established flexible work culture, it’s unlikely this will change after just one conversation. Instead, your proposal should set out a schedule of the days and hours you plan to be away from the office.

You might also want to consider setting a timeframe for a trial period. A test period of one to three months should provide ample evidence of how well the model actually works. Schedule reviews with your team at key points to evaluate progress and address any concerns.

Include in your test period time for any procedures you need in place before you begin working Anywhere. This can include daily updates, new communication channels or software installations.

To minimise disruption, establish a timeframe that allows flexible working to be gradually incorporated into your team. This staggered approach is more likely to result in a successful working arrangement for you, your colleagues, and your boss.

Man in denim shirt collaborating with his team while working from home

PREPARE A WRITTEN PROPOSAL TO PITCH TO YOUR TEAM

Once you’ve considered the points above, it’s time to put it all together in a written proposal.

Layout your aims and objectives clearly in writing to emphasise that this is a legitimate proposal. Simultaneously, try to combine your written proposal with more informal face-to-face meetings to address any concerns.

It’s important to remain flexible during these initial discussions. Your team may be open to the idea of working Anywhere a few days each week. But they may insist you must be in-office for meetings, training sessions, or presentations. In the initial stages, it’s important you be open to compromise. You can always introduce digital team meetings when your team is more comfortable with communicating remotely on a day-to-day basis.

Should your team raise a concern you hadn’t considered, don’t be disheartened. Your team might not agree to everything in your proposal agreed immediately, but a willingness to compromise can go a long way. When you’re open to suggestions, your team are more likely to be open to your proposal. Pitching working Anywhere to your team takes time and patience, but the rewards can make it all worthwhile.

SUMMARY

Outline why you want to work Anywhere – Include the main benefits for you, your team, and your business.
Quantify everything – Provide details of how you can continue to carry out your duties successfully away from the office.
Acknowledge potential challenges – Confront issues in advance and offer solutions to overcome them.
Propose a schedule – Devise a trial period to allow flexible working to be adopted gradually and allow your team to make revisions.
Prepare your written proposal – Set up a face-to-face meeting with your team. Be flexible and open to compromise.

DISCOVER ANYWHERE

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