At Greenprint, we operate at the intersection of climate resiliency and equity in the built environment. As leaders in our industry, we have taken significant strides in nurturing an adaptable work environment. This effort aligns deeply with our core mission of fostering resiliency and equity, not just in the environments we help shape but also within our own organizational culture.
During the recent Professional Parent’s Forum sponsored by Women in Planning and Development, APA-IL and AIA Chicago, our Vice President of Equitable Planning, Kristin Ihnchak, alongside our President and COO, Nicole Chavas, shared insights into Greenprint’s refined approach to flexible work policies. Here are some key takeaways from their presentation:
Embracing Flexibility: The Core Philosophy
Here at Greenprint, we see flexibility as more than just a set of rules — it’s a mindset that meets our team’s varied needs and boosts our efficiency. Kristin and Nicole shared how we've been fine-tuning these policies to make sure they really work for both our team and our business.
We’ve learned that flexibility ONLY works in a culture that embodies these key pillars: mutual trust, proactive communication, ownership, clearly defined role expectations, and transparency. These elements are essential to creating a work environment where flexibility leads to positive outcomes for both the individual and the organization.
“Successfully putting flexible policies into practice is strongly dependent on mutual trust and respect between team leaders and their staff. When policies attempt to control for every potential abuse of the system, they often write themselves out of the flexibility they sought to achieve. Rather than designing policies for the lowest common denominator, we lean into proactive communication and course correction with individual team members when policies are tested.”
–Kristin Ihnchak
Challenges and Solutions
As our team expanded and styles of management began to vary, we noticed a need for clearer, more contextual policies. We've seen that today's leaders often prefer a laid-back approach and a better work-life balance than their predecessors, but sometimes this casualness can lead to misalignment and confusion. To address these challenges, we have redefined our flexibility policies to provide more illustrative examples and clearer connections to the demands of a consulting environment, ensuring that flexibility supports our business model effectively.
“Flexibility without clarity can actually be problematic and have a negative impact on company culture.”
–Nicole Chavas
Flexible Policies in Action
Our overarching goals for implementing flexible policies are to:
- Work in the Context of a Planning Consulting Environment: We aim to create policies that are specifically tailored to the unique demands and rhythms of the planning and consulting sectors.
- Support a Company Culture That Accommodates Flexibility for Everyone: It's essential that our policies promote an inclusive environment where every team member, regardless of their personal circumstances, can benefit from flexibility.
- Contribute to a High-Performing Environment: We are dedicated to developing policies that ensure our staff thrive both personally and professionally, our projects meet budget and schedule goals, our clients are satisfied, and our community partners are effectively engaged.
The majority of Greenprint’s team is based in Chicago and operates on a hybrid schedule, but we also have a growing fully-remote team in cities around the country. This flexibility accommodates personal preferences and life’s unpredictable demands without compromising our commitment to client satisfaction and project success. We also have a flexible time-off policy, which includes no formal PTO limits, that fosters a culture of trust and mutual respect.
“We want everyone to feel comfortable not only taking advantage of our flexible environment but also feeling comfortable talking about their choices. So, we celebrate them during staff meetings — not directly calling people out, but just sharing general examples of how our team has used flexibility. This showcases that our policies aren’t just for parents but for anyone who might need them, affirming that flexibility is a benefit for all at Greenprint.”
–Nicole Chavas
Looking Ahead: Continuous Improvement and Engagement
Creating a flexible work environment is an ongoing process that requires continuous feedback and adaptation. We celebrate flexibility not only through our policies but also by publicly acknowledging team members who exemplify this value. This practice not only affirms our commitment to a supportive workplace but also sets a benchmark for future industry standards.
“The reality of policies that center flexibility is that they are a constant work in progress — but they are worth it because a culture that effectively centers flexibility is a culture where people feel supported, valued, and motivated, and that translates to higher employee retention and performance.”
–Nicole Chavas
Greenprint remains dedicated to enhancing our flexible working environment. We are excited about implementing new tools and training programs that will further integrate flexibility into our daily operations and support our staff's professional and personal growth.
We invite you to join us in this dialogue — sharing experiences, asking questions, or suggesting improvements. How is flexibility shaping your workplace?
