Seeking Autonomy
It is a Thursday afternoon and I am sitting on a balcony, sipping coffee and working on emails. I realize how energizing it is for me to be able to take time away from the office and be confident in my decision, knowing that I can be autonomous and that I have a great work environment at the office of Next Element, or anywhere. Work will get done, whether I am in the office, at home, or on a quick trip with friends or family.
In chapter 4 of his book, “Drive,” Daniel Pink talks about autonomy. He explains autonomy as being self-directed, acting with choice, while being happily interdependent with others. He also refers to “ROWE,” which means, Results Only Work Environment. This concept was created by Cali Ressler and Jody Thompson, two former human resources executives at the American retailer, Best Buy.
In ROWE, work is not managed, it just has to get done. How, when, and where, is up to each person. People continue to have specific goals to reach, and time lines for completing those goals, however, they are given a lot of autonomy as to how they achieve the needed result.
I really resonated with this concept of focusing on the result, and having a work environment that supports each persons’ unique gifts and motivators, giving myself permission to be there for my children after school, and know that I can be a professional business woman at the same time… it’s so energizing and affirming!
I believe everyone is seeking autonomy in some form. From time-to-time, everyone wishes they could attend a child’s school event, take advantage of a sunny day for some golf, or carve out a couple of hours to read and be inspired by a book. And to know you can do these things without worry, and know your supervisors and/or peers support your choices, provides an overall sense of autonomy that has a powerful effect on individual performance and attitude. I also believe healthy autonomy contributes greatly to overall health.
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Within Pinks book I really enjoyed how he divided autonomy from empowerment. Empowerment still holding onto the Taylorism mentality of the org. having the power to yield out to the employee.
The one area that is concerning about autonomy is that people want autonomy in different ways and in order to accommodate all those ways it takes a leader who is on the ball. You can have what is called a ROWE work and it still falls down, because no one was there to set the organizational goals and systems into place.
Remember autonomy works and you still have to get your work done – that is what work is..You trade some of your large autonomous for a paycheck.
Jamie,
I have worked in the ROWE philosophy for many years, without realizing what I was doing until I read the book. It suits my personality, and also of course fits perfectly into a home office lifestyle, where it’s so easy to come and go. The autonomy piece also resonates hugely for me. I wonder if this style is easier for some types than others, does it come more naturally to the persister and workaholic?