Workplace Autonomy: Making It Work For Your Company

By Rick Delgado, contributing writer

Most college students would tell you the best companies to work for typically have ping-pong tables and allow their workers to wear shorts to work. While it’s true some of the most innovative and promising companies — such as Google, Apple, and Facebook — could be characterized by cultural trademarks such as these, causality and fun are not necessarily the secrets to the success of their company cultures. On the contrary, perhaps it is the underlying policy of employee autonomy that motivates and facilitates the success and brilliance of employees.

As Silicon Valley trendsetters have consistently modeled success through a culture of autonomy in the workplace, many companies have taken their examples to heart and have begun seeking ways to implement a similar approach. However, successfully carrying out what for some companies is a complete culture overhaul is easier said than done. It can be difficult to approach this kind of shift from both a logistical standpoint and a managerial standpoint. Consider these tips for making workplace autonomy work for your company.

Be Flexible
Allowing employees to control when and where they work doesn’t just create a more convenient experience for them, it can help them work more productively and creatively. Think about your day. Are there certain parts of the day when you are more productive? Are there parts of the day when you are tired or it’s hard to think clearly? Allowing employees to control their own schedules gives them the freedom to devote the most productive part of their day, often generating their most prolific work.

There are several tools that can help to facilitate a flexible and mobile workplace. Integrated workplace management software (IWMS) allows employees to connect to their work network from a remote location. With this tool, employees can easily work from home with full access to project materials. Similarly, many companies are moving from all flash array and hard drive storage options to cloud based solutions which accommodate telecommuting by allowing employees to access project materials remotely. This technology is often used to facilitate collaboration between employees by granting a team access to a shared drive folder.

Another useful tool for accommodating workplace autonomy is called “office hoteling,” services that help companies schedule out workspaces for employees to reserve according to their own preferences. This product does more than just help to accommodate employees at their most productive hours. It serves as a suitable scheduling arrangement for telecommuters and fosters more efficient building use, in terms of both utilities and physical space.

Trust Your Employees
A large part of the allure of workplace autonomy comes from the satisfaction employees get from taking ownership of a problem or project and finding a fitting solution. This process often encourages employees to become more engaged in their work. It can also help them to think more creatively.

Unfortunately, the benefits of autonomy are all but snuffed if employees feel like their efforts are being analyzed under a magnifying glass. In an autonomous work environment, mistakes are going to be made. It won’t be clockwork all the time, but the increased engagement and creativity that come as a result of workplace autonomy will ultimately pay dividends. In order for this system to work, employers must trust their employees to effectively manage the time and resources they are given. An example of a trust-based management approach might be providing employees with a set of objectives and allowing them to work through the process of meeting them within a certain window of time. When employees sense that their supervisor trusts them, they are most likely to develop confidence in their own abilities, which will allow them to carry out their responsibilities on a higher level.

Hire The Right People
Employers who are interested in fostering a culture of autonomy in their workplace should have this end in mind when they are hiring. During the hiring process, employers should look for self-starters; applicants with proven time and project management skills. Many applicants will be poised to thrive in an autonomous work environment, however some people are just not that way. Creating a culture of autonomy starts from day one of the employee journey.