“More and more talented workers are willing to give up higher pay and benefits for more flexibility.”
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Why Listen:
In 344 other episodes we spend so much time talking about WHAT sort of work people do - the industry they choose, the functional role they take on, the size of company, even the part of the world in which they work - but we hardly ever devote time to HOW they work. Well, today’s interview is all about the HOW. Mika is an Army Veteran and acclaimed expert on how the workplace affects employee engagement. We talk about remote working and other flexibility options, and why listeners may want to pursue this in their next career move.
I loved my conversation with Mika - she is energetic, knowledgeable, passionate and generous. She is also extending a discount for her company - Flexjobs - to all Veterans, and there’s additional info in the show notes for this episode at BeyondTheUniform.org.
About Mika:
Mika J. Cross is a widely acclaimed workplace expert, speaker, strategist and innovator specializing in interdisciplinary expertise in the areas of innovative global workplace initiatives, culture change, strategic communications, knowledge management, next generation/future workplace predictions, performance and talent management, and employee engagement. Her 20+ year career in public service includes assignments throughout the United States Intelligence Community and across the Federal government. She is a veteran of the United States Army, having served as both an enlisted soldier and commissioned officer.
Our Sponsor:
StoryBox- People trust each other more than advertising. StoryBox provides the tools and supports businesses need to take the best things customers say about them, and use them to drive more sales and referrals. StoryBox offers a 10% discount to companies employing veterans of the US Armed Forces.
Audible is offering one FREE audio book to Beyond the Uniform listeners. You can claim this offer here, and see a list of books recommended by my guests at BeyondTheUniform.io/books
Partners:
Have you ever wondered how you could become a more effective and balanced leader? Or how to find a team with a high degree of trust that performs at a level you’re accustomed to? Check out The Leadership Podcast where they study what makes the best leaders tick - including many who have moved "beyond the uniform" to reach new levels of success and fulfillment.
Selected Resources:
Info about Mika
Related Episodes
DISCOUNT CODE: MILITARY or SAVE30 for up to 30% off any FlexJobs Membership.
Other fun facts:
95% reported that a flexible job would/does help them in general to be a happier person.
89% thought a flexible job would help them take better care of themselves.
86% believed it would decrease their levels of stress.
84% of people who say they have mental health issues believe a flexible job would help.
94% of those with children (or plan to have children someday) thought a job with work flexibility would help them be a better parent.
And most fun tidbit of all, 64% said it would likely benefit their romantic relationship, including an increase of 53% for time available for dates!
Transcript & Time Stamps:
2:20
Joining me today from Chesapeake Beach, Maryland is Mika Cross. What’s not in your biography that you’d like people to know?
I’m from a tiny town in Maine about 15 minutes from Bangor. Stephen King is from the same area. Growing up, I walked a mile to get to the bus stop each morning. I had a really amazing childhood. I was raised in a great family by a single mother. I feel like everything I experienced as a child set me up for success in the military.
The military was pretty far from my mind growing up. I was interested in journalism and after college, I spent a year studying journalism at Northeastern. But after that year, I was feeling kind of lost. I took a semester off and moved to New York. I had a great mentor there that had been in the Army Corps. At that time, I could not have been further from thinking about joining the military. But about eight months later, I enlisted in the Army. I really credit my journey to that mentor. She helped guide me to the right path for me.
No matter what’s going on politically in our country, it’s the citizens that can uplift each other and guide each other. I’m very thankful to all the mentors I’ve had that have guided me throughout my career.
9:11
How do you describe what you do for a living?
I’ve done so many different things and it can be described in many different ways. At the end of the day, I’ve been able to turn my passion into lifelong learning and contribution.
I learned very quickly that the support arm of creating a workplace culture is incredibly important. How do you create a workplace that inspires greatness? If we cannot bring our best selves to work, that’s an issue of national security.
We have to think about how we can allow workers to bring their best selves and their talent sets to work every day.
13:05
Can you speak about how to create better workplaces?
We’re working in a world with five generations of employees all under one roof. What that means is that you’re bringing together many different competencies and philosophies. I had colleagues in the federal government that were managing teams that were all the way from their young 20s to their early 70s. Imagine how difficult that can be. This is not your father’s workplace.
Having a mobile office capability is incredibly important for workplaces today. This allows workers to come together and easily work side by side with one another. Highly talented workers are often willing to give up higher pay for increased flexibility. That flexibility can be around work hours, ability to work from home, commuting, and more. Companies need to respond to this if they want to attract top talent.
17:40
What do you see as the pros and cons of working remotely?
Someone who can manage their time, be available, and minimize distractions is a person that would do well with remote work. You have to know yourself. Some people enjoy working in an isolated environment but for others that may be problematic.
I encourage people to take workplace reviews into account when considering working for different organizations. Tap into your own network as well to learn as much as you can about a particular company you’re interested in.
Veterans often have a unique set of circumstances when they transition out of the military into their first civilian job. It’s a different feel when you’re walking into a building in a suit rather than a uniform. When I transitioned out of the Army, I had to really know myself and what path I wanted to take. At that time, I had a baby girl and I was finishing my graduate degree. I knew that the likelihood that I would have to leave my daughter was high. Ultimately, I decided to get out of the military. I went into the intelligence community in the federal government. It ended up being a great move for me.
25:00
Are there any resources you would recommend to veterans?
I’m a huge fan of American Corporate Partners. They offer industry mentors to transitioning veterans and help them learn about industries they’re interested in. LinkedIn also has so many great veteran based organizations.
A quick Google search for military friendly companies can be a great starting point as well. The Department of Defense also offers career resources for both veterans and military spouses.
28:10
Can you define remote work?
It doesn’t always have to be 100% working remotely. There are also positions which include partially remote or working from a co-working space.
There can be a lot of stigma surrounding mental health issues in the veteran community. I often find that for veterans that have experienced trauma during service or in life, working remotely can often offer additional flexibility and have control over your work environment.
I’ve been a single mom of two for a long time. Juggling parenting with my full-time job was often very difficult. But having the flexibility to work remotely allowed me to fulfill all the responsibilities of my job while also taking care of my children.
Allowing workers to have some control and flexibility around creating an environment that will best work for them can be extremely powerful.
36:00
What would you say to skeptics of remote working?
I could write a book about all the amazing jobs I’ve chosen to turn down. I turned those jobs down because they required that I be in the office 100% of the time. That simply wouldn’t work for my family.
For employers that are hesitant about the idea of remote working, I would encourage them to consider the changed landscape in our workforce today. People are willing to give up high paying jobs to take jobs that offer additional flexibility. Employers are giving up a lot by insisting that workers be in the office all the time.
42:10
What else would you like to share with our listeners?
I want to reiterate how much support there is out there for transitioning veterans and spouses. There are also incredible benefits available to veterans. I’ve already used my GI Bill but there are additional educational benefits available to me if I wanted to go back to school.
Also, don’t be afraid to ask for what you need. That can be hard for veterans. You can’t contribute to the mission if you’re not taking care of yourself first. If you’re struggling with something, reach out for help. There are so many mentors and people out there that want to help you.