Why choice matters
The key to motivation
Do you like being told what to do?
I’m going to guess the honest answer is no.
Needing to feel that we have control over our own lives is part of being human. It starts when we are toddlers, continues through adolescence and coalesces in adulthood (although we might control and communicate it better then).
Research consistently shows that autonomy is crucial to our mental health and motivation - as well as our relationships with others. It’s something all leaders need to be aware of.
Giving people autonomy is a big part of building rapport. By making people feel that their opinions and preferences matter, and that we trust them to take control, we build a relationship with them that is based on trust.
It’s also the key to negotiation. Hostage negotiators know that people need to feel like they’ve made their own choices, and a good salesperson will never want you to feel railroaded into buying something.
This is why micro managing never ends well. Team members who feel micro managed end up feeling demotivated and resentful.
I often work with good managers who recognise this and want to empower their teams, but are concerned that it is always be possible (or sensible) to give full autonomy.
In this case, the best approach is to be very clear about the level of autonomy you are giving, and your expectations.
A useful way to do this is to think about the level of delegation you are working at:
Level 1: Do as I say.
Level 2: Research options and report back.
Level 3: Research options and come back to me with a recommendation.
Level 4: Decide what you’re going to do and inform me.
Level 5: Act independently and let me know if there is a problem.
The level of delegation you give should flex based on the task involved and the experience or capability of the individual. As people develop, it should be possible to give them more autonomy.
Lead and Develop Your Team
For more insights for new and developing managers, check out my online course Lead and Develop Your Team. Broken into short, useful chunks that you can complete at your own pace, it covers:
Motivation
Feedback
Supporting people who are struggling
Team dynamics
Boundaries
I’m offering 25% off until the end of September with the code TEAM25.