There is an impression that a contract has to be an iron-clad, rigid agreement between two parties. More and more—both in the business world and in other realms—people are looking for and expecting more flexibility in their contracts. Instead of trying to pin everything and everyone down to rigid rules and regulations, more people are looking for contracts that allow room and encouragement to change and expand. In your home business, you might consider how creating more flexible work agreements with our clients, customers, and vendors can help you grow your business and adjust to changing expectations.
You might not realize it, but increased flexibility can actually increase your bonds and loyalty with those you work with. I know that many of us have been raised to think that we need to get everything locked down tight on paper and get a strict document as agreement between two parties, but in this business climate and this changing world, more and more of us are looking for something else. We want flexibility and we want to work with others whom we know will be able to flex and adjust along with us. After all, things are changing so rapidly—technology, economics, politics, etc.—that we need to be able to change along with them and this means we need room to move around in our business relationships too.
You may actually attract and keep more clients and customers with your flexibility. Of course, you should still consult an attorney or your financial consultant to make sure that you cover all of your bases, but consider ways that you can offer more flexibility in your contracts and agreements. It will likely make you more competitive and show you are willing to work with your clients to get the job done.
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