By Marla J. Albertie
How to successfully use autonomy as a business coaching tool.
Autonomy is a powerful tool for coaches in the workplace. According to the Job Demands Resources Theory (JD-R), it is a needed resource that allows employees more freedom and control over their work, which can lead to increased productivity, job satisfaction and overall job success.
If you are a business coach looking to use autonomy to your advantage, here are nine tips for success:
- Set clear goals and expectations: When giving employees more autonomy, it’s important to set clear goals and expectations. This will help them understand what is expected and how their work contributes to the overall success of the organization. With clear goals and expectations, employees can craft the job they desire because they know what is needed for them to be successful.
- Foster a culture of trust: Autonomy requires a high level of trust between coaches and employees. To build this trust, you should be transparent, honest and open.
- Encourage collaboration: While autonomy allows employees to work independently, it’s important to also encourage collaboration and teamwork. This can lead to new ideas and more efficient work processes for everyone at the organization.
- Recognize and reward success: When employees are given autonomy, they are often more invested and dedicated in their work. You should recognize and reward employees’ successes to encourage continued motivation and engagement.
- Give positive and constructive feedback: Autonomy doesn’t mean hands-off coaching. You should still provide regular feedback to employees to help them improve and grow in their roles.
- Be flexible: Autonomy often means that employees have more control over their schedules and work processes. It’s important for coaches to be flexible and willing to adapt to employees’ needs and preferences.
- Empower employees to make decisions: Autonomy means giving employees more control over their work. As a coach, you should empower employees to make decisions and take ownership of their job functions.
- Provide resources and tools: Autonomy requires employees to have the resources and tools they need to be successful. Be sure to provide what is needed to help employees work efficiently and effectively.
- Continuously evaluate and adjust: Finally, continuously evaluate the effectiveness of autonomy strategies and adjust as needed. As a coach, this can help you ensure that autonomy is being used to its full potential in the workplace.
By following these tips and powering independence, you can help employees become more engaged, productive and successful.
Marla J. Albertie is the founder Truth Speaks Group, LLC, a multi-media coaching company dedicated to creating solutions for integrating work and life to create harmony. Marla loves to read, is a concert and comedy show junkie and a cruiser for life. Follow Marla on Twitter @tspeakscoaching and IG @Tspeaksgroup. Sign up for the Truth Speaks Group LLC Newsletter at https://www.truthspeakscoaching.com/.
