Picture this: a company and workplace where everyone feels an equal sense of importance, contribution, and independence. Autonomous working is the way to get there, and businesses worldwide are adopting such structures. Autonomy at work empowers your employees to do more, improve output, and boost the bottom line—all with a greater sense of control.

Let's dive into autonomous working and its game-changing approach to see what all the fuss is about.

Autonomous Working: What Does That Mean?

Let’s look at the working autonomously meaning. What exactly is it, what does it mean, and how can you apply it to your own organisation? In a nutshell, autonomous working is a structure that disables the dreaded 24/7 supervision from managers and cuts the chains to the office through numerous adaptations. It’s designed to give more flexibility to all employees and empower them in their roles.

That said, what is an autonomous team? Usually, this describes a team of motivated individuals who can manage projects without constant supervision, using independent working locations and hours to collaborate and get the job done. An efficient autonomous team will produce the same, if not better outputs than teams that don’t have the same flexibility.

Examples of Autonomy at Work

Autonomous working is not just a pipe dream. It is already happening in companies of all shapes and sizes. Companies that use systems/tools that improve the efficiency of autonomous working are also starting to make real headway. Software like Flexopus is an example of such tools.

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Flexopus promotes autonomous working by enabling employees to organize their working environment flexibly. With the intuitive booking platform, employees can decide for themselves where they want to work, in the office or at home. If they opt for the office, they can choose between differently equipped workstations and different office zones. If they prefer to take it easy during the day, they can book a free space in the quiet area, for example. This freedom allows employees to maximize their productivity and creativity by choosing the environment that best suits their current tasks.

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In addition, employees can reserve their meeting rooms and parking spots in advance so that there is no unnecessary searching. Flexopus also provides a real-time overview of workstation occupancy, so you always know who is in the office at what time.

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The integration of Flexopus into existing company systems facilitates seamless integration into everyday working life and supports smooth communication and collaboration. Flexopus not only increases flexibility and efficiency in everyday office life, but also promotes employee satisfaction and autonomy.

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Desk sharing is just one example of working autonomously, so what are some other examples?

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• Flexitime: employees can roll in at 5 AM and clock out early or start late and finish late, as long as the hours are done.
• Flexible working locations: working from home, business hubs, a café, or anywhere else (Wi-Fi dependent).
• DIY goal-setting: allows employees to set unique goals for their respective teams regarding profit targets, turnaround times, etc.
• Meeting flexibility: enables team members to set up their own meetings, picking and choosing the ones most necessary to hit their goals and targets.
• Independent budgeting: gives employees an automatic green light for corporate spending up to certain values, designed to remove unnecessary roadblocks.

How Employers Can Encourage Employees to Be Autonomous at Work

Creating an autonomous wonderland doesn't happen by magic. Employers and business owners need to put in the legwork to make it a reality.

If you are in the position of running your own business or managing a large team, here's how you can set the stage for efficient autonomy at work:

1. Limit employee check-ups: show faith in your team's abilities by reducing unnecessary meetings, requests for updates & reports, etc.
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2. Streamline communication: utilise services and platforms where the collective goals can be observed and monitored so everyone is on the same page.
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3. Encourage and implement skill building: consider courses, certifications, and training days for team members to prepare and ready them for autonomous working.
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4. Avoid punishing mistakes: create a culture where it's okay to try, fail, make mistakes, and learn from errors to improve in the future.
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5. Give praise: remember to show appreciation and public support for those working autonomously to maintain connection.
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6. Open-door policy: keep the lines of communication wide open between all levels of the business.
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7. Design and implement flexible policies: establish rules for adaptable work hours and locations.
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8. Promote work-life harmony: respect personal time and encourage a healthy balance between the job and life.

Autonomous Team Structure

To nail autonomous working, you may need to revamp the structure of your organisation. If so, let us show you how to create an optimised autonomous working structure:

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• Flatten the pyramid: reduce the layers of management and create open lines of communication between employees of all levels.
• Mix it up: build teams with diverse skill sets to create self-sufficient units.
• Musical chairs leadership: let different team members take the helm based on project requirements.
• Goal alignment: set clear team objectives that match the ambitions of the company.
• Huddle up: schedule regular check-ins to stay on track and iron out any issues.
• All hands on deck: bring everyone into the decision-making process for both large and small considerations.
• Tireless development: cultivate a culture where skill building, knowledge sharing, and personal development are always on the menu.

Autonomous Work Groups: Advantages and Disadvantages

Like anything worthwhile, autonomous work groups have their fair share of pros and cons. Yet, autonomy at work is all the rage right now because the pros are proven to outweigh the cons! As for the specifics, check out the following lists:

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The good stuff:

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• Employees are more engaged and happier at work
• Creativity and innovation go through the roof
• Problem-solving skills get a major boost
• Productivity and efficiency hit new heights
• Teams become more adaptable to change
• Less need for middle management
• Top talent thrives and sticks with the company long-term

The not-so-good stuff:

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• Risk of veering off course from company goals
• Tricky to evaluate individual performance
• Some team members may feel isolated or unsupported
• Employees can feel more pressure with the weight of increased responsibility

Summary

The traditional 9-to-5 is already becoming a thing of the past thanks to autonomous working. This concept and its subsequent adaptations to the old-school way of working are a welcome change that’s been long overdue. As autonomous working continues to thrive and display enhanced results, just ask yourself: do you really want your company to be left behind by failing to adapt?

To put it another way, are you prepared to welcome a culture of autonomous working to move with the times and let your business flourish? We shall leave the answer in your hands!