To think autonomy at work makes life a million times easier?

[Duckingpondlake]

Just laying out the uniforms, sorting bookbags and my own work bag, and realised I didn't have a Sunday feeling of dread and haven't for a few years now.

I was pondering and realised that I am much more senior than at the start of my career obviously, and have to make really significant decisions on an hourly basis, but none of that bothers me. I am pretty autonomous now, if I make a bad decision I'm answerable for it, but apart from that I get pretty much left alone.

The workload is high, I can't WFH often, so a few drawbacks, but being left alone to just get on is so freeing. Not being micromanaged or having to fill in bloody activity sheets or suchlike.

I wonder if we'd all be happier at work if we had more freedom to manage our work ourselves?

Absolutely, there's nothing worse than being micromanaged, it chips away at your self esteem

Definitely.

I've worked in field-based roles for 15+ years and while I wasn't senior I was trusted to be independent & organised my own diary.

I'm now in a more senior role & hybrid, but again, my diary is my own & I work flexibly.

It's incredibly freeing to work that way and I consider myself very lucky.

I often think this. It makes life so much easier for attending school events / medical appointments etc. I feel very lucky to have a lot of autonomy at work.

Autonomy is a basic human need, too many managers don't realize this.

There’s so much research confirming this.

Yes. I'm not at all senior but the nature of my role is that we've a lot of autonomy over our day to day functions and decision making.

I’ve been with my employer for 21 yeses and have gradually become more senior. I have pretty much total autonomy over my time. It’s the main reason I don't think I’ll ever work elsewhere.

Yes so much better

Absolutely. I'm older. I've reached the point my mortgage is paid, and my pension is adequate.

If they fire me tomorrow, I really won't mind much. The lack of pressure is lovely. Such a relief.

I've gone from small owner led companies to 5k plus employees public sector to huge charity and along the way got more and more autonomy. But autonomy when your boss doesn't have your back is different to when they do. Autonomy without a supportive boss is spinning your wheels, doing loads of great stuff but it goes nowhere. Autonomy with support is so freeing and gives huge job satisfaction.

I now essentially only report to one person and what they think is significantly influenced by me. They also very much have their own thoughts so are no pushover but they trust me and I trust them. That trust and support alongside the autonomy means every day I can achieve really good things.