Autonomy is a Win-Win

The best work cultures cultivate autonomy.

My daughter Abigail recently reminded me of the importance of choice and control to engagement at work. As a toy designer for a baby essentials company in Brooklyn, her job is full of creative problems to tackle. But she is given the leeway to make choices, take risks, and explore solutions. She is all-in!

I asked Abigail, “How do you describe how you feel at work?” She summed it up with these words: “Empowered. Creatively charged. Challenged. Accomplished. Ownership.”

Those are powerful feelings that lead to win-win outcomes.

Bringing Out the Best in You

Dr. David Rock, founder of the NeuroLeadership Institute, emphasizes our brain's desire to maximize social rewards and minimize threats. One of his key insights to experience rewards is through autonomy – the sense of choice and control over the work you do and the decisions you make.

It’s a win-win situation – for both individuals and organizations. When people are given the freedom and trust to think, experiment, and make decisions, creativity flourishes, and potential is maximized.

Self-Reflection

How can you tell if you have autonomy in your work? Consider these 3 questions:

1. Trust: Are you trusted with important work and given the ownership to take action?

2. Flexibility: Do you have control over your workflows and how you manage your time?

3. Experimentation: Does your manager give you freedom to find solutions to challenging problems and reward your effort?

As you reflect on these questions, do you feel empowered to do your best work? Or not?

As a leader, ask yourself how your team might respond to these questions.

Autonomy sets you and your organization up for success. Are you all-in?