--- title: "Building the Future With Maximum Flexibility" id: "61391" type: "post" slug: "building-the-future-with-maximum-flexibility" published_at: "2022-07-18T17:00:23+00:00" modified_at: "2026-07-11T18:08:07+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2022/07/18/building-the-future-with-maximum-flexibility/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2022/07/18/building-the-future-with-maximum-flexibility.md" excerpt: "That two-word philosophy—maximum flexibility—is reshaping how the American Psychological Association does business, guided by its community’s scientific work, its employees’ frequent feedback, and a CEO who knows that change is constant." taxonomy_category: - "Operations" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Associations Now" - "C-suite" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" - "Executive Team" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Executive Leadership" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Building the Future With Maximum Flexibility Part of the Deep Dive[No Going Back](https://associationsnow.com/deep-dives/no-going-back-remaking-the-association-workplace/) When business leaders get together and wax inspirational, someone inevitably declares an organization’s staff its “most valuable asset.” In these settings, the platitude can often ring hollow. But when you talk to Arthur Evans Jr., Ph.D., CEO of the American Psychological Association, his thoughts on the importance of staff and their well-being in the workplace seem authentic and deeply felt. Rather than speaking in vague cliches, Evans cites specific science-based policies his organization is implementing to enhance the organization’s culture and the experience of working at APA. “We try to base everything we do at the APA on the science, especially organizational psychology,” Evans said. “One of the things that causes stress for employees is when they’re not involved in the decision making. We’re making better decisions, and we know it has a really positive psychological effect on the staff.” Evans, who became CEO of APA in 2017, held to this philosophy during the pandemic, relying heavily on research showing that employees need flexibility to thrive and on surveys in which staff reported that flexibility was crucial to them. “We have a two-word policy: maximum flexibility,” Evans said. “What that means is that for people who want to work virtually, they have that option. Not only can they stay in their homes and work, but if they want to move, there are actually up to 37 states that they can move to, and some have taken us up on that.” Evans’ push to integrate employee feedback into policy has paid off, according to Tara Davis, director of internal communications and staff well-being at APA. “On our surveys, some people said that they were having the best work-life harmony that they’ve ever had because they are now spending more time with their families and less time commuting,” Davis said. “A lot of organizations said, ‘We have to go back to the office, back to the way things were.’ But Arthur, his philosophy has always been: We’re never going back. We’re going forward.” [Rasheeda Childress](https://associationsnow.com/author/rasheeda-childress/) Rasheeda Childress is a former senior editor at Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/rasheeda-childress/) Tags: [#Associations Now](https://associationsnow.com/tag/associations-now/) [#C-suite](https://associationsnow.com/tag/c-suite/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## More in this Deep Dive - [A Workplace Focused on Results](https://associationsnow.com/2022/07/18/a-workplace-focused-on-results/) - [New Rules to Support New Work Options](https://associationsnow.com/2022/07/18/new-rules-to-support-new-work-options/) - [A Skill-Set Revamp for Leaders](https://associationsnow.com/2022/07/18/a-skill-set-revamp-for-leaders/) - [How to Future-Proof Your Association](https://associationsnow.com/2022/07/18/how-to-future-proof-your-association-2/) - [Finding Remedies for Employee Burnout](https://associationsnow.com/2022/07/18/finding-remedies-for-employee-burnout/) - [Seven Steps to Employee Well-Being](https://associationsnow.com/2022/07/18/seven-steps-to-employee-well-being/) [View the full Deep Dive →](https://associationsnow.com/deep-dives/no-going-back-remaking-the-association-workplace/) ## You Might Like - [VideoSmarter Board Management for Associations: An OnBoard ShowcaseJuly 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/07/24/smarter-board-management-for-associations-an-onboard-showcase/) - [VideoRisky Business: What Types of Insurance Do Associations Really Need?June 17, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/06/17/risky-business-what-types-of-insurance-do-associations-really-need/) - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Tech Stack: How AI Is Changing the Association PlaybookOctober 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/29/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-tech-stack-how-ai-is-changing-the-association-playbook/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: Industry Partner Edition-Helping Associations Thrive in the Age of AIJuly 16, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/07/16/associations-now-presents-industry-partner-edition-helping-associations-thrive-in-the-age-of-ai/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2022%2F07%2F18%2Fbuilding-the-future-with-maximum-flexibility%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !