Autonomy and Engagement?

[Susan Stamm]

It seems that encouraging autonomy would be highly desirable in today's lean workplaces...and it certainly would support employee engagement. Yet many leaders struggle to give employees autonomy on the job.

I'll be asking about this issue during my interview with author Lee Colan on Bookends this week. Lee is the author of "Engaging the Hears and Minds of all your Employees" and my featured guest this week on Bookends. To register to attend this (free) interview follow this link:http://www.teamapproach.com/bookends/engagingheartsandminds.asp

[Craig Althof]

Hi Susan

A quick comment, because this could be the beginning of a fun conversation...

By "autonomy" I'll assume you are referencing the 'old' concept of empowerment that is almost as difficult to get your hands around as engagement?

I'd like to feel I can "empower" my teenage driver and just toss the keys over. But a certain amount of guidance, coaching, and trust-building has to precede that happening, for me to feel absolutely comfortable with empowering her to that degree. And, deep down, while the freedom and power would be outwardly cool for her, she would not feel completely comfortable with empowerment before she is ready.

In my opinion, empowerment and engagement are intimately interconnected. But that only applies to me personally, as engagement hot buttons are such a personal thing. I personally MUST be empowered, sometimes even if it means giving me autonomy before I am fully ready. For me, the alternative to being empowered and being given autonomy is ugly....micromanagement, being stifled, shackled, brow-beaten, talents / strengths underutilized, rode hard & put up wet....you get the picture.

The above illustrates what I think is an issue with many leaders: while I personally must have autonomy, even if I'm not exactly ready, at the same time I am very cautious when GIVING autonomy.

That does sound one way, doesn't it? What's that old expression? Something like "the only government I trust is a dictatorship, with me as the dictator".

Craig

In Pursuit of Excellence

[Doug Shaw]

I'll be even quicker than quick Craig. Empowered people don't need to be told or advised to feel empowered, we just....are. I've had a heck of a day so I'll think on this and return in the hope that the flames of fun have been well flamed in my absence

[Craig Althof]

Doug, don't fall off the hayrack thinking about this---have fun instead!

Interesting thought...do engaged people need to be enabled to be engaged? Do empowered people need to be enabled? Does someone need to give us the keys before we can drive off to wherever we choose?

For me, the ticket to empowerment (aka "autonomy") is to be informed and enabled enough to make wise choices, then feeling free to make those choices without the Sword of Damocles dangling over your head.

[Susan Stamm]

Hi Craig and Doug,

I have been off on a "training marathon" and have missed your lovely (and entertaining) comments below. How fun. Yes, we are on the same wave length here on this issue!

There seems to be an issue of both giving and also taking at play in this discussion. I, for example, have always felt that only I can empower me. Even way back, when I had "real" employment...I always felt empowered. Yes, I had bosses who gave me autonomy. Did they give it because I chose to be empowered, or was I empowered because they granted me autonomy? Hmmm. Sounds like the chicken and the egg.

These do play off each other for sure and are so very connected to engagement. I am somewhat inclined toward empowerment being an attitude I must personally choose and embrace. That being said, say I get a boss who is the dictator type...and wants to strip this away from me. Can she rob me of my self-empowerment?

It seems this is where we loose top performers in organizations or, we see folks moving into disengagement. I believe there are also those few who take the high road and move through unjust treatment from a boss while still being their own person. These are rare and talented individuals who see a future beyond a bad boss and focus on that as they ride it out. They are the exception rather than the rule.