Autonomy
In our continuing discussion of Daniel Pink’s “Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us,” we’re taking up “autonomy” as one of three factors in motivation (along with mastery and purpose).
I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard a hiring manager say, “I need a self-starter, someone that we don’t need to supervise.”
Autonomy is a highly valued skill in our current culture. It’s a strong part of our “American ethos.” Think of John Wayne riding the range of the Wild West, free to do what he thinks is right for the good of the world or at least HIS world.
Autonomy is valued by employers today because nobody is left to supervise them. With the gutting of middle management about 10 or 15 years ago, then the recession now, more and more employers need people who require minimal supervision … because there’s nobody around to supervise them!
This is positive, because according to Pink, being on one’s own to do a job is highly motivating. A lot of people enjoy the creativity that comes with working on one’s own … and if you enjoy something, you do it better.
So your career move this week? Look for places where you can do your job, or some aspect of your job, with autonomy. It’s impossible to have complete autonomy, but in nonprofit work, especially fundraising, understaffed environments offer more opportunities for autonomy that anyone can count.
(Next week … purpose)
Non-profits can be the best places to work–unless you have a megalomaniacal boss for whom your autonomy is a threat; I’ve experienced these situations, and it’s not conducive to high motivation! For me, very soon, my new job is going to be marketing my first book (release the butterflies; the crowd cheers; doves fly to the horizon…), and I need to step up my mastery, purpose and autonomy FAST! I am “on my own” to do this job, and there’s no other job I’d rather do–and I need to stay motivated! (Lest my book become a non-profit…)